i'm dan kloeffler. today we begin with the michael jackson mystery. law enforcement sources tell nbc news that michael jackson's doctor administered a powerful drug the night the late pop star died. those sources confirm dr. murray did give jackson the prescription sedative. according to the associated press, jackson regularly relied on the drug to sleep with doctors, then stopping the intravenous drip in his room whenever it was time for jackson to wake up. still, we do not know exactly what killed jackson. toxicology results have not been released. they are expected later this week. >>> federal officials say seven men in north carolina was ind t indicted of planning a coup overseas. boyd is accused of encouraging others to engage in jihad, offering military-style travel and offering money to aid overseas travel. some went to israel in 2007 to aid tax. they later returned without going through with the plan. the men are charged with providing material support to terrorism, punishable by life in prison. >>> at least two are dead, many more missing aft

i'm dan kloeffler and this is "early today." [captioning made possible by constellation energy group] captioned by the national captioning institute --www.ncicap.org-- >>> a very happy friday to you. we hope you are ready for an artscape weekend. a better we can temperature- wise. yesterday was the hottest day of the year. we have not been that hot since july 20 of 2008. it was steaming. as far as this morning goes, nothing in the wake of precipitation. some light showers in western maryland. from baltimore, we are clear. it was humid. it is still a little human this morning. 79 degrees downtown. 81 degrees in ocean city. 84 degrees-88 degrees, depending on how much sun we get. we was a good chance of scattered showers and storms as the area of low pressure goes through here this afternoon. we will have more in just a little bit. >>> here is a look ahead to an 11 news today. >>> a man is killed inside a liquor store on bellaire road. the police need the public's help to buy the suspect. the details are straight ahead. >>> up in

i'm dan kloeffler. and today we begin with taking no chances. her confirmation to the supreme court is all but assured and yet judge sonia sotomayor largely side stepped a barrage of questioning yesterday on some of the nation's most controversial topics. nbc's steve handelsman reports. >> judge, it's good to see you back. >> reporter: as her senate hearing turned to the explosive issue of abortion, sonia sotomayor would not reveal her views, but told senators it is clear what the law is now. >> that a woman has a constitutional right to terminate her pregnancy in certain circumstances. >> reporter: did president obama make sure sotomayor's pro abortion rights before he nominated her to the supreme court? the white house says no. >> that is absolutely correct. i was asked no question by anyone, including the president, about my views on my specific legal issue. >> reporter: oklahoma republican tomko burn, a doctor who opposes abortion rights, pressed sotomayor. if doctors develop ways for babies to surv

i'm dan kloeffler. and today we begin with with so sonia's story. today confirmation hearings begin for the supreme court nominee. and although she is expected to be confirmed, republicans are promising to put up a fight. for the latest we go to brian mooar live from washington. brian, good morning. >> reporter: good morning, dan. sotomayor's confirmation is all but locked up but republicans are promising a tough fight. after weeks of courtesy calls on capitol hill, judge sonia sotomayor is ready to fight for a seat on the supreme court. president obama called to give her a private pep talk from the oval office. and some democrats are predicting a slam dunk confirmation. >> i think there's a very good chance she's going to get as many or more votes than judge roberts, which was 78. she has wowed people. >> the i'm going to be playing for the constitutional team. i don't know what more you can ask of a judge sfwlr some republicans want to know more about her swun comment that a wise latina judge might ma

i'm dan kloeffler. >>> and today we begin with an american in captivity. for the first time, the pentagon has confirmed the identity of 23-year-old bowe bergdahl, an american soldier being held by taliban soldiers in afghanistan. allison ooten reports. >> a very unnerving to be prisoner. >> reporter: unnerving for bowe berdahl and his family who live in the ketchum area. their 23-year-old son is indeed their young son being held in this video. the u.s. military said he was kidnapped while outside his base in southern afghanistan, a region that shares a border with pakistan. on the video his voice cracks as he talks about the family and loved ones he's now a flad he may never see again. >> my girlfriend, who is hoping to marry. i have my grandmas and grandpas. i have a very good family that i love back home in america. and i miss them every day that i'm gone. i miss them. and i'm afraid that i might never see them again and that i'll never be able to tell them that i love them again and i'll never be abl

i'm dan kloeffler. and today we begin with a stunning about-face. just months after its provacative nuclear exercises and reckless diplomat talk rattled the world, north korea now hears to be calling for direct dialogue with the united states. according to pyongyang's foreign ministry, they are open to, quote, new dialogue over the weapons program. the communist regime did not make a direct call for talks at the u.s. but has made it clear it will not return to the six-nation talks with china, japan, two koreas and the u.s. a nuclear test and a series of banned missile talks with the u.s. on one-on-one talks. >>> this morning the state of alaska has a new governor. sarah palin stepped down as alaska's leader. she has her sights on the white house once again but this time as a president chal contender. nbc's leanne gregg reports. >> reporter: after a weekend of good-byes from sarah palin came the official moment, the swearing in of a new governor of alaska. the former lieutenant governor will take over th

i'm dan kloeffler. we begin with the complications of war. as much as president obama wants the attention to be on health care reform, this morning's top stories are about the fight against terror. there are big questions and lingering doubts today over the administration's plans to shut down the u.s.-run prison at guantanamo bay. officials say they will not meet today's self-imposed deadline to review interrogation and detention policies. much of the day focuses on the status of dozens of detainees. many considered too dangerous to release, but too difficult to try in civilian or military courts. although the white house said it's committed to throwsiclosin facility by january, the delay threatens the president's timeline. >>> the war in afghanistan continues to take an increasingly heavy toll on american forces. the deaths of four more u.s. troops on mondays makes july the single deadliest month of the now eight-year war. at least 30 american service members have died this month. that includes those killed yesterday by a roadside bomb in th

i'm dan kloeffler. today we begin with a jolt to jakarta. a pair of bombings at luxury hotels broke a four-year lull in indonesia. nearly simultaneous at a marriott and ritz-carlton hotel left nine people dead, more than 50 hurt. among those killed or wounded, 14 foreigners, an unknown number of americans. there's been no claim of responsibility so far, but there is suspicion on an al qaeda link islamist terrorist network that has been behind attacks in that region. a senior lawmaker in the world's most populous muslim nation that suicide attackers carried out these bombings. >>> in a speech honoring the naacp's 100th convention, president obama invoked his own biography as a calling to the next generation of americans. it reflected on sacrifice. he urged audience to seize control of their own destiny. make no mistake, says the president, the pain of discrimination is still felt in america. the speech pushed the ambitious agenda most notably the health care reform. >>> the senate judiciary committee has wrapped up confirmation hearings for s

i'm dan kloeffler. today we begin with a final farewell. this morning a private funeral will be held for michael jackson who died of cardiac arrest nearly two weeks ago. meantime, tens of thousands of people are dough seescending on angeles for a star-studded memorial service to honor the star of pop. we're joined from outside the staples center in downtown l.a. it's very early but the crowds, are they already forming? >> reporter: there are a few who are showing up, wandering this way. they are very concerned later today as many as tens of thousands of people could actually show up. right now we're in a lockdown area. that started at midnight local time in the quarter of a mile area around the staples center. that means no one can get in without a ticket. we're already seeing lines. the police officers, their concern is people who are beyond the 18,000 who have tickets will try and show up. to prevent that, they are not showing on a big screen the service that is inside. they told people to stay away.

i'm dan kloeffler. and today we begin with the president and the pope. this morning president obama wraps up meetings with world powers on climate change and the economy at the g-8 summit in italy. next up on his overseas tour, a stop at the vatican. he will be having a frank but constructive talk with the poement for more we go to savannah guthrie in rome. savannah, good morning to you. >> reporter: good morning. on the president's final day in italy, he's meeting with african leaders and is expected along with world leaders, to announce up to $15 billion for a food security initiative. the idea, to help the world's farmers produce more food as opposed to traditional aid. the president then comes to rome with a meeting with the pope. he'll have a state meeting with the pope, just the two of them. first lady michelle obama and the two daughters will come and have a private audience. then the president travels to africa where he will give a major speech on democracy in ghana. dan, back to you. >>> the il

i'm dan kloeffler. today we begin with taming the russian bear. president obama is on his way to moscow on a high stakes trip to thaw the frozen relations with russia and the united states. both sides have signaled they are ready to repair their somewhat stressed relationship. deep divisions could complicate the two days of talks. for more, we go to nbc's savannah guthrie who is live in moscow this morning. savannah, good morning to you. >> reporter: good morning, dan. as you say, this is an effort for the u.s. to reset relations with the russian government. but of course with significant areas of disagreement, the obama and the first lady will be there too, will lay a wreath at the tomb of the unknowns. then it's on to a four-hour meeting with the russian president. they hope to announce framework for a new agreement to reduce nuclear arms. and another deal where russia will let the u.s. use some of its land and air supply as supply routes to afghanistan. that would be a significant achievement. but th