janet shamlian, nbc news. >>> wow, the debate continues. >>> coming up, flash flood sweeping into southrolina this afternoon. >>> where heavy rains knocked cars around like toys. take a look. we have more video to show you coming up. >>> terrible situation now as investigators have recovered one body after flash floods swept two people into a storm pipe in south carolina. they're still searching for the other person, flash floods came after heavy rains pounded the greenville area. take a look at this bridge that got completely washed out. two cars ended up in the middle of the road and one sent over another creek. no serious injuries there. >>> and a typhoon landed in japan, killing one and injuring others. it slowed down as it made two landfalls in japan. more than a million people were forced to evacuate across the country, disrupting air and land travel just as japan was ready to prepare for the buddha celebration week. and another foot of rain is expected by tomorrow morning. >>> and for the end of summer we're seeing a lot of wild weather, and some in our own back yard. >>> if we c

janet shamlian, nbc news, rifle, colorado. >>> up next, the impact of a garbage pile floating in the pacific ocean. get this, twice the size of texas. >>> a california research team is just back from a voyage in the pacific ocean. they explored what's called the great pacific garbage patch. it's hundreds of miles long and growing. our miguel almaguer has more on what scientists are just now learning. >> reporter: the nearly two-month journey took the crew aboard the research vessel algalita where few ever traveled. an exploration into what's called the great pacific garbage patch, 1,000 miles off the coast of california into the middle of the world's largest open ocean. >> less than one hour. >> reporter: this was captain charles moore's tenth trip. and he discovers something he didn't know existed, an island of trash big enough to stand on. >> these are one of the most common debris items that we find out here. >> reporter: stretching hundreds of miles long, the garbage patch is a vortex of plastic, junk and debris swept together by the ocean's currents. captain moore says it's doub

>> janet shamlian in austin texas. thanks. >>> there is awful tragic news from overseas today. it's about an american journalist named james foley. he went missing in syria two years ago now. he hasn't been seen or heard from since. sadly today we learned he was apparently beheaded by isis militants in a graphic video that's been posted on the web. also in that video, an isis member speaking english who claims to be holding a second american journalist, and threatens to kill him as well, unless -- as they demand -- the u.s. gets out of iraq. the following report does not contain the video release tonight. because it is far too gruesome. but we get our report on james foley from andrea mitchell. >> reporter: the video shows journalist james foley before he was killed. an american war reporter, freelancing for the global post news agency. foley was captured in syria on thanksgiving 2012 and believed held by isis. u.s. officials believe foley was being held at the isis strong hold in northern syria, along with other captured western journalists and aide workers. foley's family app

we get our report tonight from nbc's janet shamlian. >> good morning. rise and shine. >> reporter: by his own admission, tommy cooper isn't as grumpy in the morning as he used to be. >> i feel rested, which is kind of a new thing. >> reporter: maybe it's because this 17-year-old is waking for school at 7:15, a full hour later than he used to. >> good morning teachers and students -- >> reporter: at hilton head island high school classes now start at 8:35 instead of 7:45. why did you do this? >> we thought it was best for the kids. we thought academically they would succeed. in years past they haven't been alert first thing in the morning. >> reporter: it's what the american academy of pediatrics today recommended for all middle and high schools. starting classes at 8:30 or later to better align with teens changing sleep rhythms. >> they are biologically programmed to fall asleep at 11:00 and wake at around 8:00 a.m. and that's the time when they're already in first period class. >> reporter: schools that have already pushed back start times have seen im

for "today," janet shamlian, nbc news, chicago. >> i love that story.ve the fact he saved so many lives. how many people can say that? what an honor to be able to do that. >> and how special too they managed to maintain that relationship. >> yeah. >> that's really lovely. >>> up next, the married couple who discovered they shared an important bond that actually went further back than either one of them could have imagined. want proof that pantene makes your hair healthier... all the way to the end? put pantene to the test. watch: when hair loses protein, it splits and fails the needle test. but with pantene, the advanced pro-v formula helps prevent protein loss and stop split ends before they start. so your hair passes the test with ease. put pantene to the test. for hair so healthy you shine. now, drench lips with glossy wet color. new revlon colorstay moisture stain™ weightless, creamy lipstain saturates lips... ...with brilliant shine and vivid color hydrates lips with vitamin e & aloe. new revlon colorstay moisture stain™ this is love for your lips.

we get the story tonight from our houston-based correspondent janet shamlian. >> reporter: when officer mark brinker is on duty, 2-year-old austin is his partner. for a while, it appeared brinker would have to go it alone on the often-dangerous overnight shift. his last dog retired, and like cash-crunched departments everywhere, pasadena couldn't afford a new dog. >> it's tough. they are not cheap. these dogs run anywhere from $15,000 to $20,000. so it's a big expense to obtain one of these animals. >> reporter: dog lover christie schiller, a self-described supporter of law enforcement, gave austin to officer brinker earlier this year. it was the 60th canine she's given to an officer. >> when somebody goes out there and you're asking them to take a pay cut, be underpaid, and we're not going to give you the equipment we need, i don't understand. and yet these people put their lives on the line for us every day. >> reporter: it started simply, schiller digging into her own pocket three years ago after watching reports about a houston deputy who lost his canine partner in the line of duty.

whether or not there's a logo on a dress does not change that. >> reporter: janet shamlian, nbc news.n't pay for it. i just put it on there. if you want this to make it there for you, it's good. but i wonder if it's good for the investment? >> i think there's too much pressure put on people to have a big wedding and sometimes just an understated affair that you can afford would be fine. >> one night in vegas, couple of drinks. did i say that wrong? i'm so sorry. >> you're a hopeless romantic. i got goose bumps. >> congratulations to the couple. >>> up next, how will that earthquake out in california impact the wine industry? we'll find out. plus he'll reveal great fall wines for under $20. hoda and kathie lee are screaming somewhere. but first this is "today" on nbc. >>> back now at 8:41. fall arrives in less than a month. this morning we're getting you ready with the best wines for the upcoming season. the best part about this, they're all under $20. we have one of the hosts of nbc's "restaurant start-up." before we get to the show and the wines let's talk a bit of wine. obviously an

janet shamlian, nbc news. >> mr. geist, did you have a swoosh on your tuxedo? yeah. this is the way to get you that that's fine. i wonder what's in it for the sponsor. is it it enough investment? >> it's too much frepressure pun people to have a big widing and an understated -- >> one night in vegas, a couple of drinks. did i say that out loud? i'm so sorry. >> a hopeless romantic. i got goosebumps. >> congratulations to the couple. up next, how did the earthquake in california impact the industry. we'll ask joe bastianich. hoda and kathie lee are screaming somewhere, but ♪ at kaiser permanente, everything you need is under one roof. another way care and coverage together makes life easier. okay, a little easier. become a member of kaiser permanente. because together, we thrive. ♪ >>> back now at 8:41. fall arrives in less than a month and this morning we're getting you ready with the best wines for the upcoming season. they're all under $20 and joe bastianich is one of the hosts of restaurant start up. >> happy almost fall. >> yes. >> before we get to the show and t

for "today" janet shamlian, nbc news. >> interesting point. we were just talking about this.dly making comments about them, that can be hurtful, too. >> we are saying people feel compelled to size up body types, just say hi, how are you doing? you look great. >> suppose it could be a non-issue, just say hi. >> a non-issue. >>> now to our special series "this is 50" as we mark hoda's big milestone. >> fit at 50. according to our survey, 79% of people say they get a physical at least once a year. hoda is here with some answers. happy birthday. >> thank you, kiddos. who actually likes going to the doctor? not a lot of people. i don't like it either. when i was diagnosed with breast cancer seven years ago, i made a promise that i would always be my own best health advocate. now as i turn 50 and with our own dr. nancy snyderman at my side, there was no time like the present to make good on that promise. >> hi, ladies. how are you? >> reporter: at nyu center for women's health, i was lucky enough to have one-stop shopping for all the poking and prodding, i mean fine medical testing

janet shamlian has more on that. good morning to you. >> reporter: good morning. zip through a walmart like this one and one or two aisles be done with back to school shops. now you may need the whole store. ice cube trays, tennis balls, coffee filters. some parents say it's the schools that have gone mad. with lists of supplies that have never been longer. >> it gets more and more and more expensive. it seems like they're asking for way too much stuff. >> reporter: it's parents like kimberly brown in california buying everything on the list, the tab could be $400. teachers say the lists are just suggestions. >> if someone doesn't bring it, there's nothing said. >> i needed a flash drive, headphones, pencils, scissors. >> reporter: from scissors to sanitizers to staplers, you could stock an office with some of the lists. this one for fourth grade calls for 120 pencils. tennis balls are not an unusual request. others ask for coffee filters, paper plates, even ice cube trays. >> notebooks. backpacks. >> reporter: add it up and k-12 parents will spend on average more

janet shamlian has the latest. >> reporter: this story has taken a strange turn.w heard from someone claiming to be the burglar and he is angry. he said in his haul of expensive jewels and handbags isn't the real deal. that it's all phony. >> all the items that were taken were fake. >> reporter: fake? a treasure-trove from teresa romer's over the top three-story megacloset. the one used by the former mrs. texas to host fancy fund raisers and charity. >> he took all of my rolexs, all of my chanel watches, all of my diamonds, all the harry winston, all the oscar de la renta jewelry. >> reporter: there was this video of someone rifling through the shelves. then a blue came to this reporter from someone claiming to be the thief. >> every single item that she had is fake. >> reporter: apparently using a burner phone with a new york city area code disguising his or her voice. >> his sort of demeanor seemed like someone who felt like they were wronged. >> reporter: the caller said he contacted romer asking for more than half a million dollars to return the stolen items a

nbc's janet shamlian is in angleton, texas. good morning. >> reporter: willie, good morning.urs in a trial that's made national headlines. it's a dad accused of a revenge killing moments after watching his two young sons hit and run over and killed by a drunk driver. it is a picture of heart break. david barajas with his sons who were killed by a drunk driver. prosecutors allege he gunned down that driver in a fit of grief and rage. barajas has pleaded not guilty. the boys' mother. >> you wake up every day thinking maybe it was just a nightmare. and it's your reality. >> reporter: this is the roadside memorial where the boys were pushing the family truck on the side of the road when they were hit and killed by a drunken jose banda in 2012. it was said barajas returned with a gun and exacted the revenge. shooting the 20-year-old in the head while he was still in the driver's seat. no weapon was ever found. but they found a holster and ammunition in barajas' home. he denies owning a gun and the ammunition wasn't a match from the bullet fragment in the car. >> i don't see anybod

janet shamlian is in austin, texas, covering the story. good morning. >> reporter: good morning. it looks like a political rally more than a criminal surrender here tuesday. dozens of supporters cheering on the texas governor as he turns himself in to be booked on abuse of power charges. the governor was fingerprinted. he had his mugshot taken. then he came out to address the crowd a second time. defiantly he called this a political hatchet job and vowed to fight it. he and his attorneys apparently went for ice cream afterwards and tweeted out a photo of that. perry has been testing the 2016 presidential waters and is scheduled to visit new hampshire later this week. >> all right. thank you. >>> the obama administration says it plans to change the way travelers can ask to be removed from its no fly list. this after a federal judge ruled that there was no meaningful way to challenge the air travel ban which the judge says is unconstitutional. the justice department says the u.s. will make changes during the next six months but offered few details. as of late last summer, there wer

we have nbc's janet shamlian covering the story in austin, texas. >> reporter: good morning, natalie. it was a political and to appear on stage, he tweeted out a photo of himself having ice cream. perry had been testing the 2016 presidential waters. he is heading to new hampshire later this week. natalie. >> janet in austin, texas. thank you. >>> the obama administration says it plans to change the way travelers can ask to be removed from its no fly list. this after a federal judge said there was no meaningful way to challenge the air travel ban. justice department says the u.s. will make changes in the next six months, but offered few details. as of late last summer, there were 48,000 people on the no fly list. >>> a patient who may have been exposed to the ebola virus is tested in the california hospital and kept in isolation. doctors at the sacramento hospital took a blood sample and sent it to the centers for disease control and prevention in atlanta. it could take several days for the results to come back. >>> a motorcyclist who had trouble on the russian highway. take a look. th

. >> janet shamlian, thank you.ve to turn it on. >> people do forget. >>> have we mentioned that hoda's turning 50? >> happy birthday. >> i'm trying to keep this whole thing under wraps. >> it's a whole week of celebrating. >> it feels pretty good. i feel lucky. look who i get to work with. excellent. she's 60. >> you're letting us use your birthday to kind of launch this conversation about this is 50 and show it what it really means to reach the half century mark these days. >> don't say half century. >> half century. embrace it. ♪ ♪ >> 50. 5-0. >> 50? hoda's turning 50? no way. have you seen those abs? >> get out. hoda's 50? >> almost. she's almost 50. >> five decades, half a century. i've got to let that move around in my mouth a little to get used to it. 50. how old are you? 50. yeah. oh, god. >> 1964 was an epic year. >> the beatles invaded the united states. >> they went on the "ed sullivan show" and changed the world forever. >> the beatles. "a hard day's night." wow. ♪ it's been a hard day's night >> that wa