so from-- where did the musical, you know, concept come from, if you're motivated by dick gregory? dick gregory was a speaker. he was a man who organized movements. why did you do it through music? well, my earliest recollection of music is always in my household. my mother listened to motown, stax, atlantic, from roberta flack, aretha franklin, stevie wonder, you know. "chuck, do your chores." and you've got music playing, just, you know, seeping into your bloodstream and ear stream. and my father liked jazz here and there. but i was mainly into sports. i was into the organization of sports, and a lot of black folks made strong inroads into sports, and that captivated my interests. and the whole hip-hop thing that hit me in the middle of the 1970s got me into the music, because it was the technical aspect of it. technology. two turntables, a mixer, a microphone. i was totally confused. i was like, "why do they need two turntables? in case the one over there breaks down?" [laughter] "this person is very prepared." but that struck me as being, you know, something to get involved wit

two shots is not on the overall at celtic manor was enough to beat dane and his handsome frenchman gregory wardy they finished tied for second norman getting his hands on the treasury out of his two thousand and nine european masters title. really believe my game was good enough and with the last we know. we. would know as well you know a lot of it all and that is it feels. relieving you know. that's which demoted g.b. where australia in k.c. stoner won the catalan grand prix his third victory in five races but when he took pressure on reigning world champion jorge lorenzo who came in second however got the spaniard is still seven points clear in the overall standings and his teammate ben speed was the first podium finish of the season species finished ahead of multiple champion valentino rossi who has yet to win this season after joining but you can see team athens marcus immaturely starting from pole to have to settle for sixth place after you tell him great death threats local fans after crashing down

it's interesting that gregory wallace, an african american man, was supposed to play mr. oge, an excentric neisei who likes literature. i thought it would be an interesting thing to do. but after a while we did a reading and we realized as good an actor as gregory is, it was pushing his limits for him to play a japanese american character in the late 40's. >> i imagine him as being much older. >> in the course of writing the play and using various actors, he became younger. this chinese actor is more like a character in his mid to late 30's, excentric, a career bachelor who is into russian literature and who fashions himself kind of patterned after the japanese artists of the 30's and 40's. he has round sort of glasses and a braid. but getting back to the question of creating characters, for example african american characters, i'm also caution -- i had written another play called johann that was about an african american gi and a japanese wife that got married in post war japan. i wrote that play 20 years ago. i wouldn't do it for about 8 years or so because i just didn'

nbc's kurt gregory reports. >> reporter: a fierce wildfire continues to grow in los alamos very closeo the national laboratory. firefighters are working day and night to clear brush and extinguish spot fires near the sprawling nuclear research facility. >> we have not lost any structures at the laboratory or in the town site, and we don't plan on losing any structures. >> reporter: the secretive los alamos laboratory is made up of 2,000 buildingsed a nearly four dozen sites. it's home to the nation's largest supply of nuclear weapons. >> our facilities and nuclear materials are protected and safe. >> reporter: another concern. the possible release of radioactive and harmful materials. thousands of 55-gallon drums containing plutonium-contaminated waste are stored above ground at los alamos. >> release of radioactive and hazardous materials, there hasn't been any. let me say that again. there hasn't been any. >> reporter: and there's no rest in sight for weary fire crews. the wildfire has already scorched more than 93 square miles in less than two days. curt gregory, nbc news. >>> whil

my name is gregory, in i am a lenkin mustang. as a mustang, i have one of the benefits of going to a san francisco public school, and one of the perks is being able to join rotc. learning valuable life skills. i have not come here to ask you to continue the program. i am here to urge you to have those keep on track for high school. there are friends that if it were their own choice, they would not show up to school, and many find the inspiration they need to become better citizens, and that is exactly what jrotc helps them to do, not just lets a counselor or a teacher decide our future for us. it teaches discipline in keeping track of the work that you have done and the amount of hours spent to receive credit. there is no better a lot -- outlet for student potential, because through rotc, one can make a difference in society. please let stevens participate, because if you take that away, you are robbing us of our successful future. thank you. [cheers and applause] >> hi, my name is nikolas. i am currently a student at abraham lin

for more now, we go to nbc's kurt gregory. >>> nature's power captured on camera again.his time, in springfield, massachusetts. the tower cam at the nbc affiliate shows what appears to be a towering funnel cloud whirling above the city. residents were stunned. >> we had a tornado come down and took out houses behind our building. >> reporter: several buildings in springfield were heavily damaged, large vehicles were flipped, heavy trees were toppled. thousands of customers are without power. massachusetts's governor declared a state of emergency. >> at least 19 communities have been affected so much. we have an emergency on our hands. >> reporter: many residents plan to stay in emergency shelters. >> god's hand was over me. because i never seen them in my life. >> reporter: an evening of wild weather that many in the region won't soon forget. kurt gregory, nbc news. >>> elsewhere in washington, the standoff continues between democrats and republicans at odds over raising the nation's debt ceiling. spending cuts and medicare reform remaining a sticking point between the t

nbc's curt gregory has more. >> reporter: a fast-moving fire continues to burn less than a mile fromhe los alamos national laboratory. a mandatory evacuation was ordered for the city of 44,000. >> kind of makes you nervous with all this nuclear stuff around. >> reporter: the secretive nuclear lab has been shut down. for now all hazardous and radioactive materials are protected. fire crews are working nonstop. >> i will not say -- we're doing our best to keep it off the laboratory. >> reporter: los alamos is famous, home of the manhattan project where scientists developed the first atomic bomb. it's spread out over 36 square miles. >> obviously, our priority is to protect the national asset here, protect the facility, but also we're concerned about the welfare of our 10,000 plus employees. >> reporter: fire officials warn the blaze could double or triple in size. curt gregory, nbc news. >>> and with mother nature also meddling with nuclear facilities in nebraska, the situation there the nation's top nuclear power regulator says that nebraska's nuclear power plants are safe. despite tw

. >> this was a head turner today, for more on what went into it, we go to david gregory moderator of "meet the press" from our washington bureau. the war, katrina, they were emergencies, back when they said they were going to do this because of the economy, they didn't. you have been asking about this on "meet the press" and then comes word today. >> the president back in march said this is on the table but we don't think it's enough of a disruption. now they're saying quite the opposite. i talked to white house officials today, they're saying, you're talking katrina, you're talking about three times more of a disruption in terms of the oil market because of libya right now. this isn't just politics, they told me today, there's 28 total countries involved here. but they don't shy away from one point and that is they definitely want to have an impact on the biggest driving season. july 4, a lot of summer driving. >> david gregory from the washington bureau tonight, big news on the oil market. >>> last night president obama spelled out his plan for withdrawing 33,000 u.s. troops from a

nbc's kurt gregory reports. >> reporter: with temperatures soaring into the 90s, new yorkers are trying to beat the excessive heat. >> my apartment is as warm inside as it is housed. -- outside. >> reporter: but the extreme heat can also be deadly. five possible heat-related deaths have already been reported in three states. and cooling centers for the elderly are open in st. louis and chicago, where health safety workers are going door to door checking on senior citizens. >> do they have an air condition, do they have a fan? >> reporter: record-breaking highs of 99 degrees in baltimore and washington, while philadelphia hit a record-breaking 97 degrees. blistering conditions for work crews, but not everybody was miserable. >> i like the heat. i've waited for it all winter. >> reporter: the broiling heat meant a short day of classes for students near philadelphia and in new jersey. >> it is hot in the schools. they don't have air-conditioning. >> reporter: no ac needed for these kids in camden as temperatures soared all the way to texas where it's very hot and very dry. >> we've gone 13

here's nbc's curt gregory. >> reporter: just six months after suffering life-threatening head injuries, arizona congresswoman gabrielle giffords was discharged from tirr memorial hospital in houston. doctors treating giffords say her cognitive abilities and physical strength have improved to the point where she no longer needs to be hospitalized. the chief medical officer says, "we are very excited that she has reached the next phase of her rehabilitation and can begin outpatient treatment. we have no doubt that she will continue to make significant strides in her recovery." long-awaited photos of congresswoman giffords taken in may were released on sunday on her facebook page. her smiling face offering hope for the tucson community still coping with january's shooting rampage. >> to finally see that she's doing okay, it's just like a breath of fresh air. it's wonderful. >> reporter: gifford wills move into the houston area home owned by her husband, astronaut mark kelly. the arizona congresswoman will continue to work with the same rehabilitation team at the hospital, but now as an ou

david gregory is with me from washington. what is behind this? >> this could be a very difficult blow for newt gingrich. what is behind this is a disagreement from his top aides on how to continue with his campaign. the decision that gingrich made to travel with his wife on a cruise for two weeks at a critical time. he went on vacation at a time when he needed to be going up building grass roots organizations in iowa. that shows a lack of discipline. it was something he conceded on his interview on "meet the press." he said it would impede his campaign. he talked about medicare, and a tiffany's card with a debt of $250,000, and then coming from aides, some of his aides who were close to governor perry of texas. part of he is political brain trust who play be in a position now to go over to perry. it's only going to increase his respect. >>> let me turn your attention to the congressman anthony weiner story? he won't resign. some democrats are saying they're calling for his resignment. >> the heat is on. i have talked to a top democrat in the hous

still room for that in the race. >> david gregory, good to see you. see you a bit later on "meet the press." here's jenna. >> thank you, lester. >>> sad news this morning from the world of music. clarence clemons the popular sax man for bruce springsteen's e street band. the most popular member of the band and played with a passion unmatched by most. lee cowan looks back at the life of clarence clemons. >> reporter: he was on clarence clemons broad shoulders that the boss set music history. the big man, big notes were the pillar of the e street band. his sax helping weave his blue collar in jazz and talk. clemons was known for a lot. jovial and charismatic stage presence made the 6'4", 250 pound saxophonist truly larger than life. born in norfolk, virginia, to a baptist preacher, clemons started playing the sax at just 9 years old. one of the original members of springsteen's e street band. he walked off the street into a new jersey bar. clemons recently recalled during an interview. >> we fell in love and that's still there. it's still there. ♪ >> re

kurt gregory reports on all of this wild weather. >> reporter: in arizona a raging wildfire is growing, threatening homes and lives. >> we just saw the fire burning around the house. >> reporter: and forcing evacuations in mountain communities. >> they said you have to leave now because the fire was right there so we had to turn around and leave. >> reporter: burning for more than a week, there is zero containment and more than 2,000 fire fighters are battling the blaze. the thick, rugged terrain is making the fire difficult to fight, now strong winds and low humidity are making a bad situation worse. >> because of the swirling winds, trying to put water down and retardant down on areas to try to save the town, but here we go. this is the sad part of it. >> reporter: 193,000 acres have been scorched. >> it is going to be a very hot fire. >> meanwhile, blazing heat is gripping much of the country from the upper midwest to south florida. temperatures are reaching into the mid-09s in chicago where on saturday the heat turned deadly. a 26-year-old man died while running a half marathon. ne

. >> reporter: leyland gregory knows all about stupid crooks. subject. he said the proliferation of security cameras and sites like youtube show that the average crook is no criminal master mind. gregory says many thieves seem to violate every rule of staging a successful crime. for example, a break-in should always be well planned. movies like "ocean's 11," criminals spend a lot of time hatching the scheme to get away with the loot. >> $150 million. >> reporter: but these crooks apparently can't be bothered. they simply smash their car through the front entrance of this hip hop clothing store in florida. they then snatch up as many clothes as they can, but on their way out, one of the cools gets pinned between the car and the door. ouch. yep. you better make sure you have good health insurance before you sign up to be a thief. watch this attempted break-in at a home in florida. the two burglars spend 15 minutes trying to open the side door. one of them apparently had enough. he gets into a football stance, then charges at the door at full speed

. >> jimmy: yeah, and gregory daniels.mean, gervais ricky? >> that's right. [ laughter ] >> jimmy: we know a lot of actor trivia names. ask me any actor, i'll tell you their real name. >> nick nolte. >> jimmy: nolte nick. [ laughter ] >> i did not know that one. >> jimmy: yeah. guess what ted danson's real name is? >> danny tenson? >> jimmy: yes. [ laughter ] >> danny tenson. >> jimmy: danny tenson, yeah. >> jimmy: now -- oh, this is -- okay, explain this. [ light laughter ] >> oh, gosh. >> jimmy: that is the ron swanson turkey burger. >> yeah, there was an episode where rob lowe's character wants to get rid of the beef burger in the cafeteria. and ron, of course, takes great exception to that. and chris traeger, his character, says, "well, ron, have you ever tried a turkey burger?" and ron says, "is that deep fried turkey leg inside a beef burger? if so, yes. delicious." [ laughter ] >> jimmy: that is not what a turkey burger is though. >> well -- let the audience be the judge of that. [ laughter ] >> jimmy: everyone agre

. >> item 47, motion appointing chief gregory suhr and commander lyn tomioka 4 indefinite terms to the bay area regional interoperable communications systems authority with residency requirement waived. supervisor chiu: same house, same call? motion is approved. >> item 40, resolution authorizing the office of treasurer-tax collector to accept and expend a grant in the amount of approximately $240,000 from the current assets resource network for kindergarten to college program participant incentive funds. supervisor chiu: colleagues, same house, same call? this resolution is adopted. item 49. >> item 49, resolution authorizing the port to accept and expend a grant in the amount of approximately $8 million from the department of homeland security, 2009 for security grant program fund for the pier 27 cruise ship terminal security system. >> thank you. the court has asked for a short amendment to this resolution that will clarify the intended expenditures of this grant. the amendment, which should be in friday, will bring the language of the resolution into conformity with the material pr

we will have the medal of valor presentation for sgt timothy paine, sergeant james o'malley, sgt gregory kane, officer william eleiff, and officer steven stearns. [applause] >> on may 5, 2004, a round in o'clock p.m., there was an attempted kidnapping of strangers of a woman and her son. the suspect proceeded in a chevy trailblazer and used a large caliber gun and fled westbound on any street. the suspect's description was broadcast five minutes later at 8:05. two minutes after that, officer eleiff saw the suspect vehicle and paged and began following it. as he broadcast, holding a court microphone, his location, the vehicle sped off at a high rate of speed. opposite the live activated his lights and sirens and pursue the vehicle. the suspect drove west on haight and then northwest on the visitor. the suspect drove northbound in the southbound lanes of the visitor. of azeri live broadcast a license plate as the suspect turned west on hayes. the suspect drove north on broadway and fired one shot at officer eleiff. , -- stearns, and kane. those shots can be heard of the recording of the ni

leading up to the coalition's use of helicopters for the titans time chalk this time to the oil port of gregory just days after they alliance extended its campaign by removing arms as to headlines next hour special report on how war veterans from three complex code with the reality of having killed. town found out on this mountain pass on. to be a soldier was a very important thing in a young man's life and to be not just a soldier but to be a damn good soldier and to be in combat to. understand the komi. that's where you blow and. and that's the southerner in me in time of war that's where you belong and think. a lot of mississippi. probably go on my kill me here because of a anger i had to go it out i needed to get out of necessity or a problem was that i had. came up an arbor michigan to work on the harvest and that work i couldn't do i couldn't make money at it so i came back and while i was in jackson i went to the induction center there and signed i believe. i have a sound paint you. this is a cotton military they were textile mills and i want to run for about two months and looking for a

>> i present to you the chief of police of the city and county of san francisco, chief gregory suhr. [applause] >> wow! i can't begin to thank mayor lee enough for -- i'm speechless. i owe him everything. this is the biggest honor -- it is unbelievable. thank you. [applause] >> i wrote down that i gratefully accept this appointment but i already did that. so, i would also like to thank the members of the police commission. i think several of them are here. an unbelievable group of people that put more time, effort and thoughtfulness into their approach to this process and for recommending me as someone with the qualities necessary to lead this great department. choked up. i look forward to working with those assembled and the city family and most importantly the communities that i have always loved working with over my 30 years. i'm a fourth generation bourn and raised san franciscan so i'm a local hire. and i love this city. i grew up on a block where cops lived. i trick or treated at their houses. my best friend's father started the canine unit. i played police cops. when people as

. >> ladies and gentlemen, gregory peck. >> never seems as fresh and wonderful, as good and evil as it does when seen through the eyes of a child. trying to capture that is remarkable and perhaps that is why one look and the last few years has been so warmly embraced by tens of millions of people. "to kill a mockingbird," winner of the pulitzer prize and just about every award a book can win and now happily "to kill a mockingbird" becomes a motion picture and its memorable characters become vividly alive. some people call him jane louise finch. but she insists on scout. and that's her brother, gym. just a boy until the day he learns there is evil in the world. and atticus finch, the father, whose devotion of justice places him and his children in jeopardy. and party to the defense, john robinson. >> excuse me. >> what kind of man are you? you got children of your own. >> atticus finch. >> this ring that belonged to your mother. you want to tell us what really happened? >> i got nothing to say. do nothing about it. you coward! >> gentlemen, i shall be brief but i would like to use the r

david gregory is moderator of "meet the press." good morning. >> good morning, lester. >> this bill passed in new york with some republicans citing in favor of it. the president's position on gay marriages evolving, how much of an issue will this become in the election city? >> republicans will talk about it and you're seeing that discussion take place and i think it will certainly in early states like iowa. the issue on the republican side and broader debate is whether states like new york and the others who have passed same-sex marriage laws should have the right to do that or whether there will be a move for a constitutional amendment that would disallow states to take that individual choice and try to have a national law that would prohibit them from doing that by changing the constitution. we're a long way away from that both politically and practically, but i think that's where the debate will turn and more pressure on the president to see those views to continue to evolve and take a stand. >> want to get your thoughts on the

police said they don't know what caused 38-year-old gregory wise to mitt the median near dewey boulevard last monday morning. a website set up in his memory said a memorial service will be held next sunday. >>> just ahead, the sudden bankruptcy of a popular restaurant chain. which outlet in the bay area closed. >>> and new information on the crash of a vintage world war ii plane and what happened to the people on board. >>> also in the bay area, temperatures heating up fast. rosemary will tell you how much and how fast. >> we're people who dream big when times are tough, especially when times are tough. ♪ >>> what the president had to say a couple of hours ago about creating more jobs. >>> a world war ii fighter plane crash land in a corn field outside of chicago this morning. there were seven people on board but everyone got out safely. only one person reported minor injuries. the pilot had reported a fire and was returning to the airport but obviously didn't make it. the plane was being used to help celebrate the anniversary of d-day by offering rides to the public for around $400. >>>

. >>> david gregory is moderator of "meet the press." good morning. >> good morning. >> democratic leaders clearly wanted this to go away. does this get them to that point, the fact that he leaves washington at least for a little bit? >> well, i mean, i think luke referred to it there. he doesn't show up for work, but there's still this cloud over the democrats and the business that they're trying to do, which is very important right now. both politically setting up the re-election of the president, but also the debt talks and all the rest. look, there is one top democrat said to me this week, you can't underestimate how stubborn anthony weiner is, and, yes, you know, seeking treatment is a good thing, but look at what happened with nancy pelosi on friday. she said, look, it's got to be up to his constituents as to whether he resigns. she turned as well as other top officials, including debbie wasserman-schultz, and others in part of the political arm of the party saying they had to rachet up that pressure. this does not end this. there