i'm lester holt. thanks for joining us. this morning on "early today" -- tragedy in colorado. the 24-year-old suspect in friday's deadly movie theater shooting heads to court to face dozens of charges. out with the old. 400 pounds of explosives bring down a 60-year-old landmark in the big easy. and leap of faith. scores of russian parachuters attempt a record jump. >> announcer: this is "early today" for monday, july 23, 2012. hello and very good morning to you. i'm veronica de la cruz. today we begin with remembering the victims. more than 10,000 people gathered in aurora, colorado, last night

to pay tribute to and honor the 12 dead and dozens others injured in the theater shooting that happened early friday morning. president obama was also in aurora sunday. all this as the community prepares for its first glimpse of the 24-year-old shootingsusp hearing in just a few hours from now. nbc's jay gray reports from aurora. ♪ >> reporter: shattered city. struggles to begin picking up the pieces. >> the pain is still raw and the healing has yet to begin. >> reporter: thousands gathered for a citywide memorial in aurora, united for the first time since the massacre. >> tonight is also a time to honor those who died as heroes. >> reporter: bound together by the tragedy -- >> john blunk, jessie childress.

>> reporter: but the strength comes in numbers, not nearly enough to overcome the pain and raw emotions from so much and so many lost. earlier in the day president obama shared the sorrows and compassion of the nation with survivors and families of the victims. >> i had a chance to get folks some hugs and to shed some tears. >> reporter: it has been difficult for aurora police as well. including the officer who tried unsuccessfully to save the youngest victim, 6-year-old veronica moser. >> i met with that officer. we're all coping with this. >> reporter: as they continue to try and work through the investigation. agents have finished gathering and processing evidence inside james holmes' apartment. the 24-year-old suspect will be seen in public for the first time when he stands before a

judge. the start of what will likely be a long and difficult legal case. >> we will convict him. >> reporter: confidence and ultimately a conviction, this reeling community desperately needs. jay gray, nbc news, aurora, colorado. poverty in america is reportedly increasing to levels not seen in the last 50 years. census data to be released is expected to show official poverty to the highest rate since 1965, erasing gains from a war on poverty that created medicaid, medicare and other social welfare programs. the weak economy is being blamed, especially long-term unemployment during the recession, as is reduced aid from the government. authorities say 11 people were killed and another 12 injured all in one pickup when it went off the road and slammed into two trees in rural south

texas. the cause of the accident is being investigated but i trooper said a blown out tire may be to blame. the truck was packed with illegal immigrant but. here's a look at stories making news in america. in new orleans a 17 story building came crashing down on purpose. crews imploded the old palace hotel, also known as grand palace, to make room for a new medical center. in florida a hospital that stood for 40 years met its own demise. the seven-story facility was turned to rubble in less than ten seconds after closing its doors less than two years ago. also in florida, big trouble on a small runway when a massive c-17 military cargo jet landed at the wrong airport and nearly

ran out of runway. the pilot thought he was arriving at mcgill air force, but that's four miles away. the crew was able to later successfully take off. in massachusetts a woman fought back with mangos. an armed robber hit the woman's head with guns. the thieves were later captured and the mango throwing mother-in-law is okay. finally in new york, what better way to spend a day than at the beach. the shoreline was turned into art during a 22nd annual sandcastle contest along the famed coney island. if you think you could come up with something elaborate, pros say it takes a little water, a little time, patience and some

practice. for a look at your natural and regional weather, here's nbc meteorologist bill karins. >> i like the mango mother-in-law. >> what about the sandcastle building, are you a pro? . >> i'm okay at it. it depends on the sand and the texture. have you to have enough water -- >> excuses, excuses. >> good morning, everyone. hope you had a lovely weekend. it was very hot in the middle of the country. we dodged thunderstorms throughout the northern plains and portions of the northern great lakes. this heat dome dominating the weather pattern has bounced around from the east coast to the middle of the nation has settled in the heartland. slowly going to break down as we see a couple of cold fronts coming down from the north this week. the weather patterns very active from minneapolis to chicago, even periods of storms there in new england. the heat continues around kansas city. the worst of it, excessive heat warnings from des moines, kansas city, topeka. around where the ohio river and

mississippi river heat meet. 104, kansas city. 100 easily widespread from north platte, oklahoma city to st. louis. that's going to continue even into tomorrow. temperatures will be very similar. we won't start to see the cool air possible until about thursday. that's when we're expecting the next chance of a cold front dropping those temperatures. three more days of this in kansas city and then we'll get a break for you. now here's a look at the weather outside your window. washington, d.c., a warm day, chance of thunderstorms late today. new england will be dodging afternoon storms. very hot in the southeast. but not quite as wet as yesterday. florida got drenched this weekend. looks a little dryer for them also. >> that heat wave is on its way. we all need a beach day? >> yes. no big relief till probably thursday or friday. >> got to get your sandcastle

building experience. a big energy acquisition and a motivational mishap. your early morning business headlines are straight ahead. plus, the response from hollywood to early friday morning tragedy in colorado. a monumental collapse at the british open. a close call for the green team. and the newest member of the 300 club. you're watching "early today."

good morning and welcome back to "early today." i'm veronica de la cruz. here are some of your top headlines this morning. a syrian opposition group says it launched an offensive to capture aleppo, but syrian army forces have been fighting to recapture neighborhoods in the capital of damascus. in china, at least 37 people have died in the heaviest rain storm to hit beijing in morning

60 years. large areas of the capital were swamped and dozens of other storm-related deaths are reported elsewhere in china. penn state football faces corrective and punitive sanctions today from the ncaa due to allegations officials concealed the jerry sandusky sex abuse scandal. yesterday the statue of the late coach joe paterno was removed and put in storage. in england, 17-year-old amelia hempleman adams held the olympic flame high as she rode on the london eye's viewing capital as it slowly rotated. the torch will be iced to open the games on friday. and 88 female russian parachute jumpers set a world record on saturday, forming the shape of a red, white and blue lotus flower while floating thousands of feet in the air. they held at mazing airborne formation for seven seconds. and now here's an early look at how wall street will kick off

the day. the dow opens at 12,822 after sinking 120 points yesterday. the s&p tumbled 13. the nasdaq plunged 40. taking a look at overseas trading in tokyo the nikkei shot down 161 points, while in hong kong the hang seng plummeted 587. so far earning season has been much better than expected, but this week reports from three big companies will put that trend to the test. apple reports tomorrow and expectations are high. a strong showing could not only lift techs but the markets as a whole and give traders something to focus on other than euro debt. wednesday's focus will be on the dow and frults caterpillar. thursday facebook posts first results following disastrous ipo debut. facebook closed friday at $28 and change. its original price was $38 a share. in asia this morning, the euro fell to a near 12-year low

against the yen and all-time low against australian dollar with fears spain will eventually need a bigger bailout. nrg energy struck a deal to buy genoon energy for $1.7 billion in stock forming the nation's largest independent power producer. rupert murdoch resigned from the boards of several news corp. newspapers. o the worldwide life federation ranks vietnam as the worst wildlife crime country of all asian and africa nations it studied. china finished a close second. at an event called unleash the power from within, hosted by motivational speaker tony r robbins, 21 people suffered second and third-degree burns walking across hot coals. a tour de france first. a major league milestone, and an

old school look for the new dream team. plus, one tricky spot at golf's british open had tiger taking a shot from his knees. your early morning sports headlines are straight ahead. our amazingly hot summer continues for the middle of the country. your forecast is coming up. you're watching "early today."

very good morning to you. if you're just waking up, this is "early today." in sports, up by 4 strokes, four holes to go, adam scott blew his shot to claim the oldest trophy in golf yesterday. here's nbc's bill seward with a look at all your sports headlines. the british open was adam scott's to lose, and that's exactly what he did. to england we go. tiger woods in the hunt and then he got lost in bunkers. never a good sign when you're swinging from your knees. finally got out. but the damage was done. a triple bogey, finished 4 back, tied for third. no collapse was bigger than adam scott's. leader coming in sunday. bad approach on 15. he'll need a shovel from there. he bogeys the hole. ernie els was chugging along. rolling in a birdie with 15, finished with a 68, 7 under. he watches from the clubhouse as scott falls apart. bogeys the final four holes,

needing this to force a playoff. not going to happen. els wins his second british open and fourth major. the first brit to ever won the tour de france. bradley wiggins, a leisurely ride. he wins cycle's greatest race. yankees with a lead and a's clawed back. a bomb to straightaway center in the ninth by smith. in the 12th, how about coco, tastes like victory. coco crisp with the rbi single. a's walk off with a 5-4 win. cabrera belted his 299th home run and then number 300. team usa sporting the throwback dream team jerseys for an exhibition against argentina. looks a lot like magic and jordan here. lebron james to kevin durant. americans win 86-80.

they'll have one more game before the olympics. that's your early look at sports on "early today." i'm bill seward. the jackson family continues. duh, winners at the teen choice awards. plus, looking like a famous writer may not get you much in most places but in key west is could make you a king. you're watching "early today."

welcome back to "early today." hope you had a wonderful weekend. here's what you need to know weatherwise. strong thunderstorms are possible this afternoon into this evening, areas from chicago to detroit, pittsburgh, buffalo, all of new york state, pennsylvania and really from d.c. northwards up through new york city, a chance of storms. not a lot changes even as we go into tuesday's forecast. kind of the same area with a chance of additional storms. well, if you're watching us on 2 news dayton, ohio, one of the most prehistoric looking creatures on early, alligator at crunch at boonshoft museum of discovery. does look prehistoric. >> it does. appropriately titled. now here's an early look at this morning's headlines in entertainment news. following the trojdy early friday morning in colorado, the hollywood studios have joined together in a show of respect. warner brothers has been joined

by other studios in withholding this weekend's box office numbers until later today. estimated box office earnings have normally released sunday with studios itching to claim bragging rights monday morning. jackson family members reported her missing, arizona authorities announced katherine jackson, mother of michael jackson, was safe and and with a family member in that state. kyle glover, stepson of pop star usher, died over the weekend, two weeks after being critically injured in a boating accident. last night's big winners at teen choice awards were extremely predictable. justin bieber, taylor swift, "the hunger games" and, of course, the twi light saga. did you watch? >> i did not. what was the biebs wearing? he had on a tin man suit or something. >> i missed that. >> it was a glove that was silver and -- i don't know. >> i'm going to have to check it out. >> i don't think it's going to

catch on. this comes to us from key west, florida, where one can only imagine the reaction ernest hemingway would have knowing this is part of his legacy. witness the annual running of the hemingways, a spoof of the famous running of the bulls. part of a weekend celebration honoring the author who was born 113 years ago sunday. the winner of the hemingway look alike contest is a north carolina man who says he paid close attention to the length of his beard and also the timing of his haircuts. i'm veronica de la cruz. this is "early today," just your first stop of the day today on your nbc station. [ male announcer ] want the most enjoyment from your home entertainment?

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[ female announcer ] swiffer. great clean in less time. or your money back. ♪ a few sprinkles out there this morning for sum and muggy air for everybody now and throughout the day. your forecast is just ahead. good morning, i'm aaron gilchrist. >> i'm eunian. good morning on this monday, july 23rd, 2012. the suspect in the colorado shooting will make his appearance in court today. jaemg holmes was arrested for killing 12 people, ten people still in the hospital this morning. seven in critical condition. aurora police say he planned the

shooting for at least four months. police say it could take month to determine a motive. more than 10,000 people gathered to remember and honor the victims of the attack. the citywide vigil was held outside the century 16 movie theater in aurora last night. friends and family members released purple balloons to honor loved ones. aurora's mayor says now is the time to start the healing process. >> the pain is still raw and the healing has yet to begin. tonight is also a time to honor those who died as heroes. >> the illinois man who posted crosses for the victims of the columbine high school shooting posted 12 at the high school, about 30 minutes away from aurora. president obama spent the day at the university of colorado hospital visiting with surviv