this morning on "early today," boiling point. unrelenting heat and the biggest drought in decades means trouble for farmers and food prices. free fall. terrifying moments as a 7-year-old plunges three stories from a new york city building. and force of nature. cameras are rolling as a land slide sweeps through a canadian village. captions paid for by nbc-universal television hello and good morning. i'm lynn berry. and today we begin with heat exhaustion. portions of the country are waking up to the start of the summer's fourth heat wave this morning and while there is

relief in sight for some of the areas by the end of this week, the effect of the dry scorching conditions will be with us for weeks and months to come. nbc's chris clackum has details. >> reporter: the parched dry earth and lake beds confirm what forecasters now say. nearly 60% of the country is in some stage of drought condition. >> the heat has been a big factor, the lack of rainfall combined with that have created a tremendous deficit in moisture across a vast swath of the lower 48 states. >> reporter: it's so dry, more than 1,000 counties in 26 states have been declared disaster areas. the biggest such declaration ever. mostly farmers are feeling it for now. more than half of the corn crops in trouble and little left to harvest. >> it's probably going to cost more in fuel and oil will end up getting out of it. >> the soybeans, you know, are a little more resilient then the corn. if we get some rain, they'll

come out and bloom again. the corn won't. the corn is done. >> reporter: it's already threatening to drive food prices to record levels because corn has an impact on 75% of what's sold at the supermarket. >> that doesn't mean that the price at the supermarket's going to go up tomorrow, but it is going to go up next week, and it's going to continue to rise for a number of months. >> reporter: by a slight margin, the current drought actually covers more area than the dust bowl-era drought of 1936. it's bad, forecasters say, but not as bad as back then. >> well, we're certainly not to the point of a dust bowl era or the 1950s yet. >> reporter: the drought affl t afflicting at least the midwest to actually worsen. chris clackum, nbc news. >> tough to imagine. well, the war of words is heating up between fo and presumptive republican nominee mitt romney.

the resu they were in different parts of the country trading verbal attacks. jen jer johnson has more from washington. >> reporter: out of washington and the key battleground state of ohio, president obama held a town hall meeting accusing mitt romney to cut taxes for the wealthy and outsource jobs. >> we don't need a president who plans to ship more jobs overseas. i want to give incentives to companies who are investing in you, the american people, to create american jobs, making american goods. >> reporter: romney attended a fund-raiser in louisiana. the issue of tax curbs won't go away. some conservatives are encouraging romney to just do it. others say to just focus on the struggling economy. >> americans aren't concerned about mitt romney's tax returns. they're concerned about their tax returns and the new taxes that obama is putting on the american people. >> reporter: romney is pushing the same message in this latest ad. 23 million are strulgling for

work as unemployment sticks to 8.2%. the obama campaign is not letting romney off the hook regarding bain capital. he was the sold owner and o prior to 2002. romney supporters say it's just another failed tactic for the president. >> things are not going in the right direction. no wonder he wants to try to change the subject. >> reporter: portman, a possible romney rubbing mate, campaigned for the presidential hopeful in his home state, ohio. jennifer johnson, nbc news, washington. elsewhere in politics in what has become an increasingly controversial topic this year, organizations pouring hundreds of millions of dollars in the campaign ads can still keep their top donors and expenditures secret. for now in a vote, senate republicans united to prevent the so-called disclose act from

advancing to the senate floor. democrats backed the legislation which would require independent groups to disclose the names of contributors who give more than $10,000 to political campaigns. and now here's a look at some other stories making news early today in america. in new york, a heart-stopping rescue. a 7-year-old girl plunged three stories, but was saved after a bus driver came home just in time to catch here. the hero says he saw the girl standing on top of an air conditioning unit and tried to convince her to go back inside burke when she fell, thankfully he was there to make the grab. in florida a thief was willing to steal anything he could after smashing his way into a pizza hut. so when he yanked the cash register off the counter and found it empty, he did what he thought the next best thing would be. he went in the back and stole two boxes of mozzarella cheese. police hope someone will recognize the pizza-topping bandit so they can deliver him

to jail. and finally near boston highway workers got a surprise when they found a young deer hiding behind concrete barriers. they were about to move barriers to give morning commuters an extra lane. they rescued the fawn, giving her a ride in their truck while they went back about their work. the deer was later set free in the wild. that's adorable. and now for a look at your national and regional weather, here's nbc meteorologist bill karins. he has your weather channel forecast. >> where's bambi's mom. >> hey, hey, we're not going to get into that part of the story. this is a feel good, warm, fuzzy. don't bring us down this early, come on. >> i won't, but i -- what happened to bambi's mom. i'm sure i don't like what happened to that thing's mom either. good morning. the heat wave is the big story. the temperature yesterday incredible. the range of heat from the central plains to the've s arrt seaboard. a lot of areas were close to 95

including little rock, memphis, columbia, charlotte, even areas around upper new england are going to get a taste of the heat today. this morning right now it feels like 88 in st. louis to start your morning, 86 in chicago. so it's a pretty gross feeling and the air conditioners will be on high even as you get in the car early today. there's no rain in sight. everyone is very dry. we have heat advisories through much of the lower portions of the great lakes and the ohio valley. even a couple of excessive heat warnings today, philadelphia and detroit. going to be a very hot day around detroit. possibility of getting up to 103. 100 from wichita to kansas city to st. louis. today should hopefully be the peak. that's a look at your national forecast. now here's a look outside your window. not to mention the other areas. could be near 100 today in washington, d.c. we may even get to 100 degrees in boston, massachusetts, of all places. so eight wille taste of the heat for some areas that haven't had a lot.

cold front coming down, lynn. cools almost everyone down by thursday. >> we use that cold front loosely. bill, thanks so much. well, wall street eyes stimulus, yahoo! gets their woman, and the 9-year-old master who's already made a million. your early morning business headlines are straight ahead. plus, all for show? reports say the "idol" judges didn't agonize over their exits. they were fired. coming up, a rough night for a pair of all-stars, the dream team gets a scare, and no one is safe from the kiss campaigning, not even the president. you're watching "early today." #. >> announcer: "early today" is brought to you by caltrate.

back to "early today." i'm lynn berry, and here are some of your top headlines this morning. a yus navy ship opened fire on

small boat that was racing toward it yesterday in the waters off dubai. the navy said one person was killed by machine gunfire when the smaller boat did not turn away. meanwhile the aircraft carrier ussstennis is leaving early to make sure there are two carriers in there. the other two will stay there until stennis arrives. >> in syria there's what's being called the heaviest fighting in the capital since the revolt began 17 months ago. the food and drug administration has approved truvada as a use for a preventive drug for people at a high risk of hiv infection. it's the virus that causes aids. and this is unreal. a canadian news crew was leaving in a boat just as a giant landslide in british columbia knocked down trees and covered

the area right where they had been standing moments before. the crew had been covering an earlier land slide that killed aet least one person. and now here is an early look at how wall street's going to kick off the day. the dow opens at 12,727 after falling 49 points yesterday. the s&p was down 3. the nasdaq dips 11. taking a look at overseas trading this morning, in tokyo the nikkei was up 30 points while in hong kong the hang seng sky rocketed 333. the s&p fell for the seventh day out of eight, thanks to monday's decline in retail sales. it was the third consecutive monthly drop, but analysts had forecast a small increase. adding to the gloomy outlook, the international monetary fund trimmed its 2013 global growth forecast down to 3.9% from the 4.1% it projected in april. but this morning asian markets rebounded on hopes all the dismal data will warrant some hint of monetary stimulus from

fed chair ben bernanke during his semi-annual report to congress today and tomorrow. on the earnings front citigroup beat the street estimates, drugmaker glaxosmithkline is buying a company for $3.6 billion. a scathing new u.s. senate report accuses hsbc of a, quote, pervasively polluted culture, alleged the bank failed to prevent billions of dollars in transfers believed to be related to drug and tair groups. >> sewing needles were found in sandwiches on four separate flights from amsterdam to the u.s. on sunday. yahoo! appointed longtime google executive marissa meyer as its fifth ceo in five years to attempt to turn around the struggling search engine.

and finally a 5-year-old landscape artist sold 24 of his paintings for just under $400,000. coming up the tigers rally, a twin gets down and dirty, and a tie-breaking grand slam. plus, what the president and first lady did when they can were caught on the kiss campaigning. your early morning sports headlines are straight ahead. and this heat wave is finally going to come to an end for the areas in the northern plains and the great lakes. it's about time too. 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 red won out in the battle of the sox, spoiling the return of the three-time all-star kevin youkilis to fenway. here's nbc's fred roggin with an early look at all your sports headlines. good morning. kevin youkilis made his return to fenway, but he evened a near perfect night of play couldn't get the white sox a win. let's go to boston youkilis got a standing ovation. an emotional moment for him. adrian gonzalez spoiled the home coming. three-run spot that landed on top of the green monster that gave the red sox the lead. here's a sign you're getting

old. david ortiz sore achilles rounding the bases. the blue jays' jose bautista, a foul ball. immediately left the box clutching his wrist and the game. no broken bones. he'll have an mri today. that was the beginning of the end for the jays. sacks full. they went on to win it, 6-3. a great catch to show you from the twins' ben reveefrmt adam jones laced it to right, revere on his horse leaps and makines the diving grab. check it out one more time. look at ben's eyes. they were big as saucers as he laid down and made the grachblt twins had everything going for them, beat them 9-7. the dream team got off to another slow start, down ten to brazil when they finally got it going. lebron james led the way with 30. summer love definitely in

the air. nobody safe from the kiss campaigning, not even the president and the first lady. after missing an opportunity in the second quarter, they got it right in the fourth. a presidential smooch. the crowd roared and started chanting four more years. team usa kissed off brazil, 80-69. that's your early look at sports on "early today." i'm fred roggin. >> good recovery. well, the premiere of "the dark knight "rises, char le sheen gives away a million bucks. your early morning entertainment headlines are straight ahead. plus the nation's capitol is on the lookout for a happy couple. you're watching "early today."

welcome back to "early today." if it wasn't for the amazing record-shattering heat wave we had two weeks ago, this would be a very impressive heat wave all by itself with temperatures today, 102 in chicago 1rks 03 in detroit, possibly 100s from kansas city to st. louis. notice the front tomorrow cools us off from gene bay to chicago. by thundershowers hopefully we get the cooler air. if you're watching us on news channel 7, panama city, florida, learn about the science of motion at 12 hands-on stations including one of billing a downhill racer that rolls, drops, and bounces at the science of discovery center. and that's your "early today" event of the day, lynn. >> bill, thanks so much.

and now here's an early look at this morning's headlines in entertainment. well, charlie sheen is giving a million dollar to the uso. that's the largest donation ever. charlie also says 1% of his profits from his new show "anger management" will go to support the organization. beyonce has recorded a video reading a letter she wrote michelle obama praising her this year of a strong example of a strong african-american woman. reports say jennifer lopez and steven tyler were both actually fired by "american idol," but allowed to spin it as if they left by choice. perez hilton quotes sources who say lopez asked for a $2 million raise -- i believe that -- and was shocked to be told instead she's going to be let go. >> i wanted to be at that meeting. >> with tyler, his option was simply not renewed. finally the countdown is on. "the dark knight rises" had its

premiere and opens friday. this comes to us from washington, d.c. where the nation's capitol is all abuzz with intrigue although it has nothing to do with politics. the search is on for this couple. we're going to make it closer. they were caught in motion at the d.c. memorial. a won standing 100 yards away snapped an image that looked like a happy marriage proposal. this morning the photographer who captured that moment is going to be on the "today" show for an exclusive interview right here on this nbc station. 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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we're already 80 degrees as you get your morning started and thing are going to get a lot hotter, survived it and made it to tuesday. good morning, everybody. i'm angie goff. >> i'm aaron gilchrist. welcome to "news4 today" on this tuesday, july 17th. our extreme heat is a top story. it plagued our earl earlier this summer. temperatures will hover near 100 grease again today. it's not even 4:30 in the morning and already many of the folks in our area are approaching 80 degrees. that's the reality for a lot of us. the d.c. government making adjustments to deal with the heat, a number of public pools

throughout the city will remain later today. other pools will be open all together. trash will be picked up an hour earlier than usual today and tomorrow. we'll check in with tom for details on this heat wave in a couple of minutes. >> this morning the faa is on the scene of a deadly plane crash in montgomery county. one person was killed and another critically injured when the small plane went down after 7:00. this is near davis airport. the plane rolled over and went down shortly after takeoff. friends of the pilot say he was an experienced flight instructor. >> in his 70s. been flying for many, many years. >> he was a very good friend of mine. a gentleman who had been sort of a fixture at the airport for many years. >> the victim's names have not been released. the faa is trying to figure out why the plane crashed. new this morning. d.c. police are searching for the person who shot a