this morning on "early today," road to the white house. a surprising new poll shows where americans stand on november's election. rough landing and scary moments for passengers onboard a hot air balloon. and royal treatment. queen elizabeth welcomes the olympic torch the england's windser castle. captions paid for by nbc-universal television hello and good morning. i'm lynn berry. today we begin with dead on arrival. today the house will vote for the 31st time to repeal president obama ee's health care law.

zero chance the senate will go along. n nbc's brian mooar joins us for those details. hi, lynn. it is strictly for show, but it plays to the base of both parties. the house is voting today to repeal president obama's health care law. >> we are standing here for the american people against the largest middle-class tax increase in the history of the united states, and we will not stop until we are ultimately successful. >> democrats point out this is the 31st vote on health care. >> one definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. >> the next big fight, who gets an compensation of the bush era tax cut. >> give mitt romney another tax break, that would cost about a trillion dollars, and we can't afford it. >> the idea -- i mean the very

idea of raising taxes on small business and job creators at the very time we need more jobs is the sort of thing only an extreme liberal could come up with. >> with washington hopelessly gridlock, a visitor has an idea how to make it work. >> turn off the air conditioning and don't come out until you solve it. >> on capitol hill, a new fight covering some old ground. and this repeal vote is a no cost opportunity for some vulnerable democrats to take a symbolic stand against the health care law. lynn? >> brian, thanks. >> with just four months to go until the november elections new poll numbers find president obama has expanded his lead over his republican rival mitt romney. if the election were held today a new reuters ipsos poll would show obama at 49% and romney 43%.

the president's improved standing appears to be fueled by americans slightly more optimistic view of the future. the poll found the number of americans who thing the country is on the wrong track dropped 5 points last month to 58%. that's down from 63% in june. the most destructionive wildfire ever in colorado has been 100% contained. the 29-square-mile waldo canyon fire near colorado springs was completely encircled yesterday. two people were killed by the fire. over a three-week period over 350 homes were destroyed, however, two new colorado wildfires were reported yesterday. president obama is expected to make health insurance available for seasonable firefighters doing the work of battling western wooirlds. about 18,000 should be able to buy into the federal health insurance plan this month it. follow as electronic petition

drive that drew more than 125,000 signatures. well, now here's a look at some other stories making news early today in america. in arizona it was a bumpy ride for some tourists aboard one hot air ba look. high winds kicked up highly forcing a pilot to make a rough but successle landing in the cotton field. the balloon bounced around a few times but the pilot and four canadian visitors all made it off safely thankfully. in california, dramatic end to a police chase. man who tried to get away from police officers weekend off a hillside, slamming into a fence and down the embankment. even more disturbing he's a school teacher wanted on child abuse after lewd acts with a student. in north carolina, a dangerous light show after a downed power line sparked a fire in charlotte. no one was hurt, but traffic in

the area was tied up all morning, and power was cut off for hours. and finally in florida they have a problem with peacocks and it's getting pricey. the birds are attacking cars and it's leaving all kinds of dings and scratches behind, causing some $2,000 worth of damage. one neighbor things the peacocks are confused by the reflection in the car metal. i hate when that happens. and it leads them to think they're battling another bird. and now for a look at your national and regional weather, here's nbc meteorologist bill karins with the weather channel forecast. i'm glad we got to the bottom of that i lived in central florida. there are a couple of places that peacocks hung out in the backyard. i had one that attacked dogs when they go on walks. good morning, everyone. we dealering with the heat still across the west, but in the middle of the kun trit's warm but not hot. this is what we should be in july.

we broke our streak of 90-plus degree weather in philadelphia. we did continue our 90-plus streak there in washington, d.c. and it was warm in many areas, but the really hot stuff was back here in the montana and down to the desert southwest. where are we now? we're heading into the middle of july. typically the hottest weather is in july and also the first week of august, but this cold front stalled out here in the southeast. all the humid air is trapped down around the gulf and at least for a couple other days it could remain. from galveston to charlotte to raleigh, greensboro dealing with some rain. most of the heb rain will be along that stationary front. we'd love to give arkansas the rain. central georgia could use it. it would be cruel if all the heavy rain stays in northern louisiana and mississippi but maybe we'll get lucky and some of that will clip arkansas that desperately needs it. for our forecast today, it's a typical july forecast.

warm everywhere and thunderstorms in the southeast. that's a look at your national forecast. now here's a look at the weather outside your window. today many areas will be into the mid to upper 80s. a few locations will be in the 90s. indianapolis, 92. we'd love to get some rain into the ohio valley where the crops are really hurting. nothing too dramatic. coming up, revising downward on wall street, american cities going bust, and which of the united states is the best for doing business? your early morning business headlines are straight ahead. plus, tom cruise may have started a mission impossible, but if katie holmes could play the real-life cvesecret agent leading up to her stunning surprising divorce filing. >> coming up, lake griffin strikes it rich, an all-star blowout and what do san francisco giants fans know that the rest of us don't?

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blowout and what do san

good morning and welcome back to "early today." i'm lynn berry, and here are some of your top headlines this morning. with the penn state report on the jerry sandusky scandal set to be scheduled for today, they're questioning the integrity of the inquiry and said paterno did not know sandusky was a pedophile. he's expected to be sentenced in september. attorneys for lance armstrong refiled the lawsuit seeking to stop the u.s. anti-doping agency of stripping the scribe list of his seven tour de france titles. the agency announced yesterday two doctors and a trainer formerly associated with armstrong's team have been banned for life. the olympic's flame was carried through the grounds of windsor's castle yesterday and queen elizabeth was there for a closer look as the torch makes its way toward the start of the

game on july 27. and a colorful print of the queen by pop artist andy warhol is expected to raise $93,000 for charity in london today. numbered and signed by warhol, it was one of the last pieces he produced. now here's a look at one of your top health headlines on msnbc.com. a new report finds the u.s. is on record for the whooping cough. there have been more than 15,000 validated cases of whooping cough and that could top 30,000 by year's end. that compares to 15,000 last year and 27,000 in 2010. there are currently whooping cough outbreaks in 19 states. and for more information on this and other health stories you check out the health page at msnbc.com. and now here is an early look at how wall street's going to kick off the day. the dow opens at 12,653 after dipping 83 points yesterday. the s&p dropped 10.

the nasda sank 29. taking a look at overseas trading this morning, in tokyo the nikkei was down 6, but in hong kong, the hang seng gained 23. well, stocks dropped for a fourth straight day tuesday on growing gloom of corporate sales revenue and profits. alcoa which reported a quarterly loss was the dow's biggest loser tuesday. chip maker advance microdevices tumbled more than 1 17 after slashing its outlook. chip maker applied materials fell after announcing it will miss its full year estimates. engine maker cummins cut its forecast and plunged almost 9%. european debt worry added to general jitters driving bank stocks lower as the euro plummeted to a the two-year low. a labor dispute settle nnlt in norway lowered gas prices.

struggling research in motion fell 5% on the day of its annual meeting, and news it will sell one of its two corporate jets to save a billion dollars a year. else where jc penney will lay off another 350 at its texas quarters. 30% have been axed since spring. the san bernardino city council has voted to declare bankruptcy. california's third city to seek bankruptcy protection in less than two weeks. and with his city out of cash without negotiation the mayor of scranton, pennsylvania, cut the pay of city workers including police, firefighters, and even himself to minimum wage. city worker unions have launched several court actions against the cuts. and finally for the third time in the six years cnbc has done a list of the best states for business. texas has finished number one with top ten finishes in six out of ten competitiveness

categories. well, coming up the l.a. clippers' big man signs for big bucks and a motorcycle racer's premature celebration. plus the all-star game's lone home run is good enough to win the mvp award. your early morning sports headlines are straight ahead. soo so the big heat has left. the question is when will it come back. your forecast is coming up. you're watching "early today."

good morning. if you're just waking up, this is "early today." and in sports last night in major league baseball summer classic, the all-star game, the national league shut out the mesh league, claiming home field advantage in the fall's world series. here's nbc's fred roggin with an early look at all your sports headlines. good morning. giants fans stuffed the ballots, voted four of their own into the all-star league and the national league is glad they did. they wasted no time getting on the board. pab pablo sandoval etched his name in the history books. the nl was up 4-0 and looking for more. dan uggla capped off a five-run first with an rbi sickle. in came sandoval. the national league's justin

verlander started to run away with it. we go to the standing once again. braun there. bautista was there to make the defensive grab of the game. there was only so much the american league could do. many thought melky cabrera should not have been an all-star. his two-run game in the fourth blew the game wide open. try to get some love from former teammate robinson cano and cano wasn't having it. who need as high five when you have a new car. national league won their third straight all-star game, 8-0. couple of nba notes. the spurs re-signed tim duncan. blake griffin will be an l.a. clipper for the next five years. he signed a $95 million extension. finally, classic moment from a motorcycle race in italy. roberto caruso crossing the finish line first, or so he thought. began celebrating his victory

while there was still another lap to go. while he was fist pumping everyone went by. it turned into the agony of defeat. how many times do we have to say there's nothing worse that premature celebration. that's your early look at sports on "early today." i'm fred roggin. well, chris brown is challenged in court and sophia va garcia's really big birthday present. your early morning entertainment headlines are straight ahead. plus women who serve in uniform are given the ultimate treat for the ultimate day. you're watching "early today."

welcome back to "early today." we may break our streak of 90-degree-plus temperature in washington, d.c. with an 899-degree forecast high. very warm almost everywhere. best chance of thunderstorms in the southern half of the country, especially if you're headed to tennessee, kentucky, mississippi, and alabama. let's look at the extended forecast. no 100-degree forecast. dallas, oklahoma city and st. louis include. if you're watching us on 11 live news in atlanta, georgia, check out a unique exhibit that looks at the evolution of skate design and ask is it really art at the skate it or hang it? museum in atlanta. that's your "early today" ee voenltd f the day, lynn.

and now here's an early look at this morning's headlines in entertainment. when it comes to community service you could say chris brown is getting lindsay lohan treatment. part of his probation stemming from his beating of former girlfriend rihanna. the deputy district attorney complained details of how many hours and where the singer did his work were unclear. tony award winner nina arianda will make her big screen debut playing '60s singer janis joplin in an upcoming biography. the mek tick lis katie holmes spent her time planning for her divorce. right down to entrusting a friend to obtain a disposable cell phone for her, which she used to secretly speak to lawyers. >> don't mess with katie. >> sounds like a script to a hollywood movie. and finally after weeks a of a much publicized break-up sofia

vergara celebrated her 40s birthday with an all mat gift from boyfriend nick lobe. sorry, bill. back to the drawing board. this comes to us from whg news in hagerstown, maryland, where in nearby fredericksburg, they traded in their uniforms for a day. servicewomen were given free bridal gowns. the store did the honors for about 25 brides but across the country, some 6,000 women were given the chance to say yes to the dress. i'm lynn berry, and this is "early today," just your first stop of the day, today on your nbc station. [ female announcer ] with swiffer dusters,

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4:28 is your time now. 71 degrees. another comfortable start to your morning. a couple more days of this nice cool weather. we had some rains. will we get more rain? we'll have your forecast in just a moment. >> welcome to "news4 today" on this wednesday, july 11th. thousands of customers are without power after another storm slams the d.c. region. up to two inches of rain fell yesterday in a two hour's time. nearly all customers are in d.c. there is no word on how long it will take for crews to restore

electricity to all customers. that storm left some drivers stuck in high water. the rain was so fast and furious police were forced to shut down flooded roads. we found firefighters pushing cars out of the water on first street in northwest. one man tells news4 he came home from a softball game to find his entire apartment flooded. >> my neighbors have a sump pump. that's all i can do at this point. i tried brushing it out to the drain. it's literally like this the entire way through my apartment. >> look at these pictures of the flooded streets. this is along rhode island avenue in northwest. it was a similar scene on the dulles toll road before the spring hill exit in mcclain. leaders will call for an investigation into a serious problem. why 911 systems failed during the big storm two weeks ago. the fairfax county board of supervisors used their meeting yesterday to talk about how the county handled the crisis. the big focus,