i'm lynn berry. time for your first look at entertainment news. to one report, as a punishment for stealing a necklace, lindsay lohan may be getting a bracelet. tmz reports lohan will plead no contest to misdemeanor theft. in return, the judge will not increase her 120-day probation violence sentence. the website goes on to say it is possible given routine procedure by the l.a. county sheriff's department that as a nonviolent misdemeanor offender, lohan may be able to serve her sentence at home provided she wears an electronic monitoring device. >>> most anyone honored by getting to throw out the first pitch at a major league baseball game would normally stick around for the game, right? not celebrity shaef gordon ramsey who tossed out the opener for the dodgers monday night. he immediately left the stadium and went to the nba laker play-off game. taking up a front row seat next to pal david beckham who celebrated his 36th birthday along with courtside friends justin timberlake, will ferrell, eld difficult murphy. >> he should have at least kest o

i'm lynn berry. those stories and more straight ahead. this is "first look" on msnbc. >>> we begin this morning with sacred ground. as details emerge of the military's mission to take down osama bin laden, white house officials say president obama will visit new york city's ground zero this week to mark the milestone with the families of 9/11 victims. last night lawmakers from both parties applauded the president's success, praised the commander in chief was quick to pass on. >> i want to begin recognize the heroes who carried out this incredibly dangerous mission. tonight it is my fervent hope that we can harness some of that unity and some of that pride to confront the many challenges that we still face. >> reporter: with osama bin laden dead and buried at sea, aides say the commander in chief called some on the navy s.e.a.l. commando team and heard their story as they choppered toward bin laden's complex. the president knew the s.e.a.l.s had rehearsed the raid on a mock compound, but he agonized,

i'm lynn berry. today, we begin with paying tribute. across the nation yesterday, communities large and small remember generations of brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice, serving and fighting in our nation's wars. nbc's kurt gregory reports. >> halt! >> a day of remembrance at arlington national cemetery. president obama honoring tens of thousands of americans who gave their lives defending the united states. >> we remember that it is their courage, their unselfishness, their devotion to duty that has sustained this country through all its trials and will sustain us through all the trials to come. [ taps ]. >> reporter: at the vietnam war memorial, a call to americans to think about all those currently paying the ultimate sacrifice. >> i think there's a sense that in some way, much of the nation has psychologically moved on. combat casualties are no longer on the front page. sometimes they're not on the second page, sometimes they're not in the newspaper. >> volunteers and civilians i

i'm lynn berry. today we begin with off the radar. we are now learning how exactly osama bin laden, once the most wanted man in the world and apparently a prolific e-mailer, managed to stay ahead of the u.s. government for so long. the associated press reports although he didn't have a phone or internet access in his hideout, bin laden managed to stay in touch with his contacts by giving a courier e-mail messages on a flash drive. the courier would then go to a distant internet cafe to send and receive bin laden's messages. navy s.e.a.l.s hauled away about 100 of those memory drives. the electronic records may contain hundreds of e-mail addresses leading investigators to others. >> reporter: senior u.s. military and intelligence officials tell nbc news from inside his hideout, bin laden was fully engaged to carry out other 9/11-style attacks. describing him as a micromanager and meticulous note taker, he used his compound for command and control of al qaeda, compiling plans for new attacks. >> he men

i'm lynn berry. welcome band good morning. today we begin with sacred ground. as details emerge of the military's mission to take down osama bin laden, white house officials say president obama will visit 9/11 grounds this week. last night, lawmakers from both parties applauded the success. praise the commander in chief was quick to pass on. steve handelsman reports. >> i want to, again, recognize the heros who carried out this incredibly dangerous mission. tonight, it is my fervent hope that we can harness some of that unity and some of that pride to confront testimony challenges that we still face. >> reporter: with osama bin laden buried at sea, the president called some of the navy commando team and heard their story. the president knew the s.e.a.l.s had rehearsed the raid, but he agonized. watching and listening in realtime at the white house. u.s. intelligence found bin laden last summer, trailing a courier to his hideout. but they were never sure. >> the president had to evaluate the strength

i'm lynn berry. today we begin with round two. middle america has been terrorized once again by a pack of deadly twisters. the latest strike, kansas, oklahoma and arkansas. at least eight people are dead there. this as residents in joplin, missouri, struggle to cope with their disaster. the death toll there stands at 122 with four still missing. >> oh, my gosh. >> out of there and safe. >> the motion is tremendous. >> reporter: another assault from mother nature, this time, the target is oklahoma. >> getting another killer tornado. it went across highway 81 as it intensifies and it almost got us. >> reporter: joplin, missouri, a city already struggling with so much loss. >> this used to be our home and now there's nothing left of it. >> reporter: the devastation stretches for six miles, more than 1,000 structures destroyed by the ef-5 tornado with winds over 200 miles an hour. but those are just numbers. the reality is that these are lives splintered and torn apart. >> well, we looked at it for two d

. >>> i'm lynn berry. those stories and more are straight ahead. this is "first look" on msnbc. >>> we begin this morning with the final decision. president obama has ordered that the grisly photo of a deadly osama bin laden will not be released to the public, a move already sparking some debate. we continue to get more details how bin laden was ultimately taken down. we go to nbc's tracie potts in washington for us. good morning. >> reporter: good morning. let's start with that photo. the president says that releasing the graphic photo of bin laden's death and video of his burial could insight radicals who have already vowed retaliation against the united states. so, for now, they will not be publicly released. reaction on chiapitol hill is mixed. a fake photo is already going around. some here say republicans and democrats, that the dna evidence and what they heard privately from the cia is enough. but others say that the u.s. and those in the middle east need to see these photos. now, as for the raid itself, the white house now says three out of

i'm lynn berry. welcome to our viewers across the nation. today, we begin with that final photo. as we get more details about the military operation that killed osama bin laden, the obama administration is now facing a very tough question, whether or not to release the final images showing the terror leader's body. for more on that, we go to nbc's steve handelsman. >> reporter: cia director leon panetta gave lawmakers the briefing and they gave him advice about the death photos. >> it was important for the united states to release the picture of his body to confirm that he is dead. >> reporter: panetta agreed. >> we got bin laden and i think we have to reveal to the rest of the world that we were able to get him. >> reporter: but it's not the cia director's call. it's president obama's he doesn't want to rush out what the white house calls grewsome shots. >> there are sensitivities here in terms of the appropriateness of releasing photographs of osama bin laden. >> reporter: more arguments against re

i'm lynn berry. today we begin with the long road ahead. this morning, survivors in joplin, missouri are beginning the second week of what will be a trying and lengthy recovery. yesterday president obama travelled to the tornado-striked zone for the firsthand look at the devastation. nbc's jay gray reports. >> how are you guys doing? >> reporter: looking to raise the spirits of this battered community, president obama travelled to joplin on sunday. >> obviously the scene speaks for itself. >> reporter: the splintered wood and twisted metal spread for six miles, remnants and neighborhoods stretched to their limits. >> this is not just your tragedy. this is a national tragedy. that means there is will be a national response. >> reporter: it's help this city will need for a long time. >> it's overwhelming. >> reporter: but in this place where everything seems to be torn apart, sunday there was evidence that joplin is actually pulling together. ♪ >> reporter: thousands gathered for a memorial to remember

i'm lynn berry. today with begin with tense talks. president obama will sit down with israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu today. the topic of peace in the middle east is sure to take on a different tone now that the president has embraced palestinian terms for drawing borders with israel. tracie potts is in washington for us with more on all of this. good morning. >> reporter: hi there, lynn. >>> they are expected to spend three hours together today. he backed a two-state solution >> the borders of israel and palestine should be based on the 1967 lines with mutually agreed swaps so that secure and recognized borders are established for both states. >> if he will try too strongly to satisfy obama he will find himself with no government home. so he knows what are his red lines. >> key issues are israel's defense and settlements which israel is expending. >> the dream of a jewish and democratic state cannot be fulfilled. >> so far we have not seen the palestinians ready for it. >> u.s. made commit

i'm lynn berry. today we begin with the final battering. the southern and eastern portions of the u.s. are now dealing with their share of a deadly spring storm system. thunderstorms are being blamed for at least three deaths in georgia. meanwhile, in charlotte, thousands of nascar fans who were gathered ahead of a weekend race were evacuated from a celebration there due to the weather. fortunately, no injuries were reported while the worst appears to have finally passed. we're going to have your holiday forecast coming up in just a bit. but first, search and rescue crews continue to sift through the debris in joplin, missouri, where hundreds remain unacted for in the wake of wednesday's deadly tornado. brian moore is in joplin with us with the latest on those search efforts. brian, good morning to you. >> reporter: good morning, lynn. we saw the death toll up to 136. 232 people are on the official list of the missing, but the associated press is reporting this morning that it is starting to go throu

i'm lynn berry.oday we begin with schwarzenegger shocker. this morning, one of the most powerful families in american politics is coping with the stunning confession that former california governor arnold schwarzenegger fathered a child with a former household employee. for the latest reaction, we go to nbc's stephanie stanton. >> reporter: the los angeles times broke the story early tuesday morning, stunning front page news that the former governor of california, arnold schwarzenegger fathered a child more than a decade ago with a long time household staffer. schwarzenegger, seen here leaving his office issued a statement to the times saying, quote, after leaving the governor's office, i told my wife about this event which occurred over a decade ago. i understand and deserve the feelings of anger and disappointment among my friends and family. the news comes exactly one week after the schwarzenegger and maria shriver announced a separation. >> i just kept thinking, there has to be another shoe to dr

i'm lynn berry. today we begin with a letter of resignation. dominique strauss-kahn has stepped down as head of the international monetary fund as he remains jailed at new york's rikers island on sexual assault charges. the 62-year-old says he wants to devote all of his energy to battle the claims. later today, strauss-kahn will have a hearing hoping to get released on $1 million cash bail under the condition he will remain in manhattan with an electronic monitoring device. meanwhile, the investigation against him continues. police are now combing the hotel suite where a maid claims the sexual assault took place for evidence. officials say they have removed a piece of carpet for dna testing. >>> in an ominous reminder of osama bin laden, al qaeda has released posthumous audiotapes of the once most powerful terrorist praising the protests sweeping across the middle east. in it bin laden predicts movements will blow over the entire muslim world. bin laden hoped the collapse would lead to stricter adher

i'm lynn berry.oday, we begin with the final decision. president obama has order that the grisly photo of a dead osama bin laden will not be released to the public, a move that is already sparking some debate. meanwhile, we continue to get more details about how bin laden was ultimately taken down. for more on this, we go to nbc's tracie potts. she's in washington for us. good morning. >> lynn, good morning. first that photo, that controversial photo that the president will not release to the public, at least not now. the white house saying that the risk outweighs the benefit. there are too many radicals out there already been on recal t l retaliation. there's been a fake photo around. some democrats and republicans say they can wait that the dna evidence is enough for them. others say they think the photo needs to be released not only for the u.s. but also so that middle easterners will know that osama bin laden is, in fact, dead and is not coming back, as they put it, to terrorize them. as for the

see your lexus dealer. >>> welcome back, everyone, i'm lynn berry.k now to the story headlining newspapers around the world -- the death of the most wanted man in the world, osama bin laden. u.s. special operation forces have killed him in northwestern pakistan. no americans were harmed in the raid. making the announcement last night, president obama, who said the operation was carried out with the cooperation of pakistani officials. former president george w. bush congratulated mr. obama and said in a statement, quote, this mow measurementous achievement marks a victory for america, for people who seek peace around the world and all of those who lost loved ones on september 11th, 2001. the new national alert system has not been activated because of this development, although the state department did issue a statement urging u.s. citizens abroad of the potential for anti-american violence. joining us once again, retired army colonel and msnbc jack jacobs. jack, good to see you once again. let's talk about the security here in the u.s. and abroad. wha

i'm lynn berry.nd today we begin with the mighty mississippi. flooding of historic proportion is hitting areas among america's greatest river. memphis has been hit particularly hard. residents haven't dealt with floodwater this high since the 1930s for the for the latest we go nbc's jay gray. >> reporter: the mississippi has reached its peak cresting at a near 48 feet. >> all we can do now is let the water go down, try to keep people safe, keep them patient, give them the assistance they need. and because this is going to be with us for another few weeks. >> reporter: at least two weeks of homes filled with water instead of families. businesses submerged, frightening images for those down river. >> the floodwaters come to us. it's coming up and it's coming fast. >> reporter: in vicksburg, mississippi, that water is already beginning to swallow homes as it continues to move in. many are being forced to move out and up to higher ground. but in louisiana where most of this water will ultimately end up,

i'm lynn berry. today we begin with scene of destruction. the battered community of joplin, missouri is just beginning to get a grasp on the devastation it has suffered. the death toll has now climbed to it at least 116 making it the deadliest single tornado strike in the u.s. in nearly 60 years. rescuers are still searching for more victims. they pulled 17 alive from the rubble and the governor says they are certain there are still more alive. jay gray reports. >> reporter: the massive tornado cut a path through the middle of town for six miles, neighborhoods were wiped away in a matter of seconds. st. john's medical center was ripped apart. those used to dealing with the aftermath of emergencies now suddenly caught up in their own. >> when we came out, it looked like a war zone. >> reporter: as soon as the wind stopped, rescue and recovery teams moved in, searching for victims trapped in all of this rubble. more than a day later, that effort is continued. but as crews fought through the debris, the

i'm lynn berry. today we begin with flood zone. president obama declared flood ravaged regions of tennessee a federal disaster zone tuesday as the mississippi river crested just shy of record levels in memphis. meanwhile, delta residents for mississippi and new orleans are bracing water coming their way with officials warning the worst is yet to come. nbc's jay grey has our report. >> reporter: the mississippi has reached its peak in memphis, but the problems and water are going to be here for a while. >> it will be several days before anyone can think about getting back into the areas to begin the cleanup work. >> and now the flood waters are taking aim on mississippi. >> now vicksburg is going to get the largest amount of height of water that they've ever had in their history. >> reporter: that water is already creeping in, forcing families to move to higher ground. in tonica, luck has run out as the city's nine casinos. the main source of income in the area could be washed out for a month or more.

i'm lynn berry and today we begin with a high profile arrest. one of the world's most powerful men is facing charges this morning. he is the head of the international monetary fund. his arrest has sent chock shock waves aaround the world. we go to kristen dalgren. good morning. >> reporter: as you said. a very powerful man facing those serious charges this morning. that after a maid in manhattan claims she attacked her. she claimed he chased her down the hallway and assaulted her as she was able to break free. police say by the time they got there, he was gone and had left his cell phone behind though. they were able to track him down to a flight that was able to leave john f. kennedy airport. he has undergone physical and forensic testing. his attorneys say that he denies all the charges and that he will be needing not guilty later on this morning. and now to the dire situation along the mississippi river basin. where residents are being told to leave home as the water rises. >> a tore rent water rushes down the spillway. it opened as part of a

i'm lynn berry. thanks for watching "early today," just your first stop of the day today on your nbc station. have a good one.

. >> i'm lynn berry, and this is early today. just your first stop of the day. today on your nbc station. >>> derby in california, teams dressed up and strapped into homemade human powered cars. no motor vehicles were allowed. racers could reach high speeds and that made the turns tricky. but he was fine. well what do you get when you cross a lion and a tiger. a liger of course. two newborn ligers have survived in china. with a lion for a mother and a tiger for a dad. the hybrid species are are so well-known. they are not found in the wild but only in zoos. women strapped on the high heels. >> why the organization of sdoe mess tick violence represent obstacles that can overcome issues in women's lives. >> that is good. if you wore heels next to me, you will be like katie holmes and tom cruise. >> you are giving yourself a lot of credit, bill. >> time now for an early look at stories throughout the day. in washington, a committee will hold a hearing on a white house plan for cyber space security. the proposal asks other countries to work jointly to protect proper

i'm lynn berry.hanks for watching "early today," just your first stop of the day today on your nbc station. enjoy your friday and have a terrific weekend. -- captions by vitac -- www.vitac.com do i look like someone who's at risk for heart disease? well guess what, i am. heart disease took my dad's life, but it doesn't have to take mine because 80% of cardiac events in women may be prevented if we make the right choices. eighty percent. you may not know you're at risk, but one woman dies every minute from this largely preventable disease. help bring a voice to this silent killer. speak up to save lives at goredforwomen.org