this morning on "early today," tax tug-of-war. mitt romney reveals his tax rates but ignores calls from the obama campaigns to release his returns. living on the edge, a surging river in alaska puts one home on the brink of destruction. and body double. wax likenesses of prince william and his wife kate arrive in germany just in time for tea. texas texas captions paid for by nbc-universal television hello hello and good morning i'm lynn berry. and today we begin with health and taxes. the battle continued with teams obama and romney trying to convince voters young and old

that their plan is the most financially fit. meanwhile a mitt romney bach shell about his personal tax rate has sparked fresh controversy. nbc's claire leka joins us all with all of this. good morning. >> good morning to you. mitt romney called the interest in his personal tax returns small minded but it looks like an issue that's dogged him all summer long and if the obama administration has their way, they want to keep his millions front and center. you could call it taxgate. presidential hopeful mitt romney say his won't release more tax returns. but explaining how his medicare plan would work using a whiteboard in south carolina yesterday he did give his clearest explanation yet. >> over the past ten years i never paid less than 13%. i think the most recent year is 13.6% or something like that.

>> reporter: romney has already made his 2010 tax return and estimates of his 2011 public. team obama isn't sagts feed. they still want proof. >> this brought the income tax debate back to the forefront after we spent so much time talking about medicare, about the ryan pick. >> reporter: meanwhile in ohio romney's running mate paul ryan stayed on message fending medicare's current funding. >> do you think it's an achievement? neither do i. >> in richmond virginia he tried to get back onto the hot button issue this week. >> my plan makes no change whatsoever for seniors. none, zero, zip. anyone 55 years and older sees no change whatsoever to medicare. >> now, the president and vice president will attend a second day of meetings at the white house today while romney heads to his home state of massachusetts. in washington i'm claire leka.

lynn? >> claire, thanks so much. ahead of what could be a close election, a federal court has awarded four voting days to five florida counties. last year the republican-led legislator slashed number of early voting days in the entire state from 12 to 8. well, last night the u.s. district court which has power in those five reinstated it in those areas because it found the new law would make it difficult for some minorities to cast a ballot. else wra last night on nbc's "rock center," mitt romney's wife revealed a health scare she had during the republican primaries in march. she said the stress and strain of his campaign led to a, quote, little bitty flare-up of her multiple sclerosis. she was first diagnosed in 1998 and her condition had been in

remission after treatment. with wildfires raging in the west, oregon is the latest state to declare a state of emergency, authorizing help from the national guard. at least 70 major fires are burning in 13 western states. authorities say a fire in washington that's destroyed 70 homes and more than 200 structures is now 33% contained and firefighters hope to fully contain it by sunday. meanwhile take a look at this. several structures in washington are being called miracle houses because they survived despite being surrounded by flames. just an eerie site there. and now here's a look at some other stories making news early today in america. in alaska it's not a question of if but when this house teeter tong edge of a river will finally give way. the house is falling victim to erosion caused by rushing water, the results of an unusually large amount of gla shall melt caused by this year's hot weather. crews are standing by to

clear out bridges just in case the house comes racing downstream. in pittsburgh it took just seconds to blow up a bridge. it's part of a construction project to build a new interchange. a barge and a crane will remove all the steel sent plunging into the allegheny rush. in new york another kind of explosion wowed the crowd, but this one was strictly for entertainment. a film crousset off a blast to shoot a convenience for hbo's boardwalk empire. and finally in new jerseying it is a come murter's dream come true. watch this. the lincoln tunnel was turned into a racetrack if over for a day. the formula one driver hit speeds of over 190 miles an hour. this was all part of a promot n promotional shoot. by the way the regular speed limit is 35 miles an hour. you'

you're lucky to go that fast. and now for a look at your national and regional weather, here's nbc meteorologist bill karins. he has your weather channel forecast. >> that would be really cool to be in an indycar. >> it would be really cool to get through the lincoln tunnel in less than an hour. >> that's the difference between me and you. good morning, everyone. here's what we're looking at this morning. the beneficial cold front and the rain. it's still on the move. now it's pushed through tennessee and even arkansas. we're watching showers and thunderstorms through northern mississippi and alabama. a few of these have a lot of lightning strikes with them. theeft are beginning to shift through huntsville and they're on their way to birmingham and columbus this morning. nothing too severe with them, but just a lot of heavy rain. we'll take whatever rain we can get around the country. we had some showers and storms in arkansas, one clump in northeast texas but now the cool high pressure has built in. this is your fall refreshing air maas that will head through the east coast.

temperatures right now are anywhere between 10 to 20 degrees cooler from kansas city to st. louis to chicago and green bay. so when you walk outside this morning throughout the midwest, you will notice a change in the air mass. i've also added the p.m. to our thunderstorm icons just for lynn berry. she was upset. she thought it was going to rain all day through new york and d.c. it's just the late afternoon, mostly toward the evening hours. they'll be more plenty full down through the southeast any time today. that's a look at your national forecast. now here's a look at the weather outside your window. so same goes for baltimore. a chance for thunderstorms will be late afternoon through the evening hours as the cold front tries to get a little closer. as far as areas in new mexico and arizona, watching for numerous thunderstorms and showers just like yesterday. so we're clear, it's not going to rain for you during the day today. >> you know, outdoor dinner reservations are very important to keep. so thank you for my personal weather forecast. it's supposed to be a secret

that you did that. coming up, building permit boom another stumble for facebook and what's the worst state when it comes to handling the iphone? your early morning business headlines are straight ahead. but gray but still great action heroes in advanced years return to the silver screen. coming up the dodgers are fighting mad, rained does it all, and the best bobblehead doll ever. you're watching "early today."

good morning and welcome back to "early today." i'm lynn berry, and here are some of your top headlines this morning. and now here's an early look reuters are discussing the worst-case scenario for syria that could require tens of thousands of ground troops to secure chemical and biological weapons sites following the fall of bashar al assad's regime. julian assange was holed up

for two months. they say he'll be arrested wn he steps off the premises. the centers for disease control and prevention is recommending all baby boomers get tested for hepatitis c which can go undetected for decades. >> in a surprise development u.s. say the u.s. carbon dioxide levels have dropped to the lowest levels in 20 years. mostly because they're using natural gas instead of dirty cole. it was tea for two in berlin where madam trousseau used wax figures for prince william and the duchess of cambridge. they were invited if afternoon tea at the engles embassy. and now here's an early look at how wall street's going to kick off the day. the dow opens at 13, 250 after jumping 85 points yesterday.

the s&p nudged up 9. the nasdaq zoomed up 31. in toque co- well, strong earnings from cisco and some upbeat economic data stimulated stocks thursday. a boost to its divg debld put the tech liter add the top of the dow thursday with a 10% surge. also getting investor attention, the biggest jump in building permits in four years, which signals more economic activity down the road. the housing report also helped push the price of crude higher for a third straight day. oil prices added more than a dollar to sell just below $96 a barrel. but the days gains were capped by weak earnings at walmart which the largest retail chain blamed on america's living paycheck to paycheck. facebook fell to a new low sliding 6% after the early backers had their first chance

to sell since its botched ipo three months ago. sears said cost-cutting helped narrow its quarterly losses but sales continue to spiral at the struggling retail retailer. on the upside pet smart climbed nearly 5% thanks to better than expected earnings. the justice department approved verizon wireless's $3.9 billion purchase of wireless spectrum including comcast, the owner of this network. and just how clumsy are you with your iphone? well, blame it on the state you live in. one of the nation's largest warranty survivors based on a stoichlt every day iphone breaks and damages, they found mississippi is the nation ee's clumsy "early today" state. preseason action, avoiding a big apple sweep, and coming through on your own bobblehead

night. plus a difference of% with the umpire gets the skipper the boot. we have one of the coolest temperature weekends of the summer. that's coming up. you're watching "early today."

good morning. if you're just waking up, this is "early today."

and in sports the texas rangers rallied against the yankees yesterday, avoiding a four-game sweep. here's nbc's fred roggin with an early look at all your sports headlines. good morning. after losing eight straight in the bronx, the rangers finally got it right. they picked up a win against the yankees. adrian beltre did just about everything for texas. adrian's best up was in the field. ichiro laid down a bunt, betray bare handed it and gunned it down to get one of the quickest players in the lead. derek jeter with a shot down the line. adrian was there. beltre and the rangers won it, 10-6. 33,000 showed up for chipper jones' bobblehead night and chipper put on a show for his adoring fans. hit a home run in the fourth. the 40-year-old still has a pop. chipper with another blast, this time to straightaway center. they should have bobblehead night more often. two for chipper and two for the mvp ryan braun. he hit a pair against the

philses. brewers snapped a two-game skid, 7-4. are you starting to see a trend here? took joe albanyton. dodgers not happy about the home run or the umpire. all ejected for arguing balls and strikes. dodgers lost the argument and the game, 10-6. how about some football? nfl season is about three weeks away. the packers' aaron rodgers ready to go. 20-yard strike to jordy nelson. that was it for green bay. they phoned in the rest. the browns won it, 35-10. dalton trying to avoid a sophomore slump. 50-yard touchdown. cinci won it, 24-19. but it's only preseason. they'll start playing for real on september 5th. cowboys and giants kick off the season on nbc. that's your early look at sports on "early today." have a great weekend. i'm fred roggin. well, up next we break down all the new films at the box office this weekend. your early morning entertainment

headlines are straight ahead. plus, the first couple not shy about public displays affection now have a monument paying tribute to their very first. you're watching "early today."

all right. welcome back to "early today." let me take you through your weekend forecast. today, definitely bring the umbrella with you in alabama, mississippi. eventually we'll get more storms back through louisiana and texas. for the east coast, it's not till late today for the big

cities from new york to baltimore to d.c. and philadelphia, probably during the evening houring is when you'll see your best chance of storms. over the weekend be prepared iffer saturday morning iffer the clouds and showers to linger. probably the jersey shore. by the afternoon it will get better. the front stalls out in the deep south. that's where you're going to deal with afternoon showers and storm. i'll tell yo whau. enjoy the great lakes and mid-ohio valley. it will be a perfect wecht. support children's literacy by checking out an exhibit featuring the works of 27 children's illustrators. that's the giving tree project at the danforth museum of art. 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. a group of aging action heroes, i'm sure they're glad we're calling them that, they're going for numbe one at the box office. it's "the expendables 2." it's supposed to finish number one.

sylvester wrote the sequel. for the first time in eight years. jean-claude van damme, chuck norris, jet li, jason and bruce willis also star. it should take in 35 to $40 million. all right. sparkle was supposed to be whitney houston's comeback film. instead it was her last coming in second. paranorman is about a boy who battles ghouls, witches to save his town. and finally green stars jennifer garner and it's about a couple without kids and they find a unique one at their door. it's going to wrestle for a spot in the top five. i have serious makeup to do because i haven't seen spider-man, batman. i have plenty to do. how about you?

>> come on. >> come on, i've got two kids. why are you even asking me? >> summer movies come out around christmas so check in with me then. >> yeah. vd time. all right this comes to us from wmaq, nbc 5 in chicago. now two of the most presidential landmarks. a plaque has been erected at the site where president obama and first lady michelle obama had their very first kiss. it was back in 1989 in front of an ice cream shop. the president tells the story. they married three years later in 1992. i'm lynn berry. this is "early today," just your first stop of the day, today on your nbc station.

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a live look outside at 4:28 on this friday morning. clear skies to start the day off, but times, they are changing. won't be so great this afternoon. first, good morning. i'm aaron gilchrist. >> i eun yang. welcome to "news4 today" on this friday, august 17th, 2012 chlt. paul ryan will be campaigning in the common walt for the second time this week. ryan will headline rallies at a high school and at west springfield high school in fairfax county. the democrats are putting new pressure on mitt romney to

release more of his past tax returns. they say it's the only way to defend his claim that at least 13% of the his income went to taxes for the past several years. >> you back and look at my taxes. over the past ten years i never paid also than 13%. i think the most recent year is 13.6, something like that. pay taxes every single year. >> that was yesterday. romney says he's given a lot of money to charity. when you combine those contributions to the taxes he's paid he's given up more than 20% of his income each year. romney denies an allegation by harry reid that he paid no taxes for some years. virginia governor bob mcdonnell will play a key role later this month. he will be one of six headline speakers in tampa. mcdonnell is also in charge of the party convention's platform committee which will decide the gop's position on many key issues. governor chris christie will give the key note address and