michelle franzen, nbc news. >>> overseas now to another big story we're following tonight, a historic turning point in egypt. more than a year after rage and revolution swept across that country, egypt has a new and freely elected leader, a one-time political prisoner, now president. our chief foreign correspondent richard engel joins us now from cairo's tahrir square, where the celebration continues late into the night. richard? >> reporter: they certainly are, lester, with fireworks as well, egypt today took a major turn, electing a conservative president who wants to impose islamic law. it was a year and a half ago in this square that students brought down president mubarak, but in the end it was the islamists who managed to do what the students could not. rise to power. 2:00 p.m. tahrir square, the muslim brotherhood is already celebrating. their victory in egypt's most important election ever still isn't certain. two hours later, judges appear on state tv to officially announce that the muslim brotherhood's mohammed morsi has in fact won, with a 52% majority. tahrir explodes in b

here's michelle franzen. >> reporter: residents and crews throughout the mid-atlantic began cleaning up what mother nature ripped apart. in just a matter of hour, late friday, tornados and severe thunderstorms barrelled through four states and the d.c. area. >> some 208 reports of severe weather. of those just in the east, we have about 13 tornado reports. >> reporter: one confirmed tornado tore through the town of hampton, virginia. it was spotted at a waterspout churning across the chesapeake bay. in maryland, a dramatic rescue. three teens held on for dear life under a bridge. they were trapped for four hours before firefighters lifted all three to safety. >> to see a situation where three young lives could have been swept away in a moment, it's scary. >> reporter: today, one of the teens described those harrowing moments. >> we was in the rain, didn't know it was going to be endless. >> reporter: in washington, d.c., more close calls as drivers heading home barely escaped this flooded underpass. >> it rose up on three feet to about like six like within, just like that. >> reporte

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as michelle franzen reports, she's about to get an ivy league education. >> reporter: at age 18, dawn loggins is wise beyond her years. >> i do feel like i've had to grow up fast, but i don't feel like it's been a bad thing. >> reporter: heading into her senior year at burns high school in lawndale, she was abandoned by her parents. for the last year she worked as a cuss to doia before and after classes. >> i get here about 6:00, and i work from 6:00 to 7:40. >> reporter: in between she worked even harder to graduate. >> i felt like it would just be easiest if i gave up, but it was never in me to give up, because i did realize that i was never going to be successful unless i got an education. >> reporter: excelling her teachers say, in academics and in the school of hard knocks. >> if this is the buffet of knowledge, then dawn is a young lady who has come to class and engorged herself. >> reporter: her drive paid off. she not only graduated. this fall she's headed to harvard. >> i'm delighted to report that the admissions committee has med me you'll be admitted to the harvard class of

natalie. >> michelle franzen in west jordan, utah. thank you, michelle. >>> attorney general eric holder has become the first sitting cabinet member in history to be held in contempt of congress. on thursday the house voted 255-67 to hold him in contempt in his role for withholding documents in the fast and furious gun investigation. holder has dismissed the vote as political theater. >>> a winner made a home coming in time for the olympics. muggily returned from the competition to his british home. the 8-year-old was a star in england where he won the ugliest dog competition in 2005. in addition to his notable looks, he's got a very notable heart. his family is actually giving his $1,000 prize to charity. that's nice. now six minutes past the hour. back outside to al with a check of the weather. i don't think he's so ugly. >> i like that hair thing going there. you guys have a good time at the concert? >> very nice. everybody enjoying maroon 5. not going to enjoy this heat and rough weather we've got. unfortunately the fire forecast f

michel franzen, nbc news, montreal. >>> now at 6:00, high heat and humidity gripping the region. started. >>> minnesota hit with some of the worst flooding in decades. animals at the zoo among the victims. >>> a possible attempted abduction at a bus stop may be linked to a deadly police shooting. >>> a heated debate on capitol hill. late this evening a house subcommittee found eric holder in contempt of congress. good evening i'm in for jim advance. >> and i'm doreen against her. gensler. gentzler. this heat wave will be with us for a while. doug cammerer joins us. >> those temperatures doreen definitely heated up. we start

her's nbc's michelle franzen. >> reporter: luca magnatta remains locked up in a berlin jail where hearges in a grisly murder and dismemberment case. >> he is alone in a cell for 23 hours so, he has no con tact with other prisoners. >> reporter: magnotta is accused of killing, dismembering and eating a roommate that he dated in the past. dlam he mailed body parts to ottawa and schools in vancouver before he fled. while searching his apartment they found a human torso inside his suitcase. now police in the u.s. are looking to possible links to similar cold cases including the so-called hollywood sign killing. in january they found the severed head near the iconic sign. police later found his severed feet and hands. >> in order to be as thorough as possible, of course, they contacted the folks up in canada just to see if there's a chance they're related. >> reporter: the crime in canada triggered a global manhunt with sightings that first led the police to paris. then authorities in berlin arrested him at anne internet ka faf and told police he was searching articles about himself on th

nbc's michelle franzen has more on the search for the killer. >> reporter: outside the home where 6-year-oldwbold lived and the place she was reportedly last seen, a makeshift memorial and a community in shock. >> it just puts a little stake in your heart, i tell you. >> reporter: police says an autopsy say it is little girl whose body was found dumped in a canal only a block from her home was sexually assaulted and murdered. >> there's obviously a predator out there that is a monster that has murdered a child. is this predator targeting other children? i have no idea at this point in time. >> reporter: police say sierra's mom kathy reported her missing from her bedroom tuesday morning around 7:30. sierra's dad brad had already left for work. within a half hour of the call, police found sierra's body. investigators aren't revealing the cause of death or how long she had been dead. information along with other clues, experts say, that could help find the killer. >> what appears to be most critical right now is law enforcement saying there is evidence she had been sexually molested. to me that

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michelle franzen, nbc news. >>> overseas now, egypt's first freely elected president is expected to meet today which last week took away most of the major powers of the president's office. islamist candidate mohamed morsi won with more than 51% of a vote. he carried the message of unity and pledged international accords including those with neighboring israel. his supporters are vowing to stay in tahrir square. president obama called morsi to congratulate him on his win. >>> and now here's a look at some other stories making news early today in america. in florida, people were doing a double take after seeing a pair of bears fighting. they got into a wrestling match right in the middle of a residential neighborhood. even wildlife officials who watched the video say they've rarely seen anything like that. after their brawl the bears eventually just wandered off. >>> in south dakota storm chasers captured an unusual tornado on video. the massive white funnel cloud rained hail as it made its way outside of a farm in ardmore. a few outbuildings were destroyed. no one was hurt. >>> in indiana

michelle franzen with the latest. >> billowing smoke and towering flames surrounded homes today outside colorado springs. hundreds of firefighters battled the waldo canyon fire that scorched more than 2,000 acres and is threatening densely populated communities and parks. >> a primary issue is structure protection and continue to hold the line that will stop the fire from coming down. >> the fast moving blaze is one of eight wildfires burning in colorado, the worst fire season in a decade. >> this isn't something we haven't seen before but it is unusual to see a fire with this potential. >> the biggest, the high park fire outside of collins have been burning for two weeks, charred 81,000 acres, destroyed nearly 200 homes and displaced hundreds of residents. >> it's one of those days where if we have nothing really lost it's darn good. >> in nearby estes park, another fire raced through, destroying 21 homes and cabins. >> i didn't think to take the phone in my wall let. >> tinderbox conditions that continue to stoke fires throughout the west. basically the ingredients are single digit re

nbc's michelle franzen in montreal. od morning to you. >> reporter: well, good morning, matt. luka magnotta remains locked up at this montreal jail facility and is due back as you mentioned in court tomorrow. at his first appearance yesterday magnotta showed little emotion. so far authorities say since returning to canada, he's showing little interest in cooperating. luka magnotta, the porn actor suspected in a murder and cannibal case pled not guilty to all charges against him inside a courtroom. he and on closed circuit video. prosecutors outlined to the court they are still building their case. >> sure it's going to be a difficult case but they are all difficult cases. >> reporter: magnotta the lone suspect in canadaed most brutal murder in a decade. accused of killing a boyfriend jun lin at magnotta's apartment, mutilating, dismembering and eating body parts. he mailed parts, including feet and hands, to government offices and schools and posted the video of the killing online. prosecutors filed charges of first degr

natalie. >> michelle franzen in detroit for us. rian williams with what's coming up tonight on "nbc nightly news." good morning. >> natalie, good morning. when we see you tonight on "nbc nightly news," we're going to tell you about a special group of americans, a bunch of marines receiving congressional gold medal, nation's highest civilian honor. we'll tell you their story and more when we see you tonight. for now, natalie, back to you. >> thanks, brian. a look at what's trending. a quick roundup of what has you talking online. targeted marketing, online travel agency orbitz noticed macusers are bigger spendeneders, like better hotels, usually have higher income than pc users. if you're a mac you may be shown a more expensive use of hotels than on your pc. the site is not charging more for the same room. >>> a hot search is hunger games heroine jennifer lawrence living up to her status after she ran to the rescue of a young woman who collapsed outside her apartment in santa monica. while awaiting the paramedics she tried to arouse

michelle franzen has more on this story. michelle, good morning. >> reporter: good morning, ann. max remains in icu. the first 48 hours following open-heart surgery like this are the most critical. max is showing incredible strength and doing fine so far. his mom gave us an e-mail update in the last few hours saying max is awake at times, talking, and looking forward to going home. max page, the little boy behind the darth vader mask in the famous volkswagen super bowl commercial put on a brave face to undergo open-heart surgery, doctors say with flying colors. >> we're very pleased with his progress and outcome. i think everybody was calm. i think max was more calm than the parents actually. >> reporter: his parents jennifer and buck said in a statement it was max who offered them comfort and laughed heading into surgery. holding onto his stuffed animals and his brother's hand, his mom said he told everyone, it's okay. i'm not scared. it's the same upbeat attitude max displayed at home just days before, running around and running through the can do list he created of things he p

we'll talk with his parents but first here is nbc's michelle franzen. >> reporter: when max page andswagen's popular super bowl commercial last year, he used the force to start the family car and warmed his way into our hearts. >> wow, you're a handsome guy. >> when he revealed his hand some face on "today." now 7-year-old max is using his powers in a new way, making a can do list for things he hopes he can do after open-heart surgery tomorrow. >> book club, drums, pottery, funny movies. >> max was born with a congenital heart defect. this will be his eighth surgery in seven years. >> pulmonary valve, something we've known since he was three-month-old that would be in our future. >> max's mom, dad and little brother are part of the support team along with doctors at children's hospital in los angeles. >> the artery that carries the blood between the heart and the lungs is still almost the size of an infant. it's like trying to pump gas through a straw. >> you wouldn't know it watching max play or as an actor with recurring roles on young and restless and "prime spectacular" taking ti

for "today," michelle franzen, nbc news, new york. >>> there's more ahead this morning. at sea. now there are new revelations about his erratic and sometimes disturbing behavior. we'll tell you more about it. first, this is "today" on nbc. >>> still to come on "today," you've seen it on tv. does that exercise equipment really help you get in shape? fitness experts will give some of them a try. >>> real estate mogul barbara corcoran puts her own house on the market. does she follow her own advice? first, these messages. [ male announcer ] at banana boat, we test our broad spectrum sunscreen so it stays on in conditions like sand... sun... 100-degree heat, and ocean water. for uva/uvb protection in seven conditions, banana boat. we've got you covered. over a million people have discovered how easy it is to use legalzoom for important legal documents. at legalzoom we'll help you incorporate your business, file a patent, make a will and more. you can complete our online questions in minutes. then we'll prepare your legal documents and deliver them directly to you. so start y

for "today," michelle franzen, nbc news, new york. >> and now for a look at what's trending today.lking online. drew barrymore is a hot topic online after her weekend wedding. the actress tied the knot saturday at her estate in california. the guests include cameron diaz, steven spielberg and jimmy fallon. >>> a minnesota fifth grader returns to school today with the best excuse ever for cutting class. tyler played hooky to watch his dad introduce president obama at a campaign appearance so the president bailed tyler out with a note to his teacher, mr. ackerman, writing please excuse tyler, he was with me. one to be framed, for sure. >>> and this youtube clip of all of the miss usa contestants is going viral online. they did a lip dub to call me maybe with a very special guest appearance. ♪ >> the new miss usa was crowned last night rhode island's olivia cu culpo. the 20-year-old cellist heads to the miss universe pageant. contract lagss to her. let's go out to stephanie with a check of the weather. everybody's doing the call me maybe game. >> i want to introduce you to some guys w

here's nbc's michelle franzen. >> reporter: graduation season, a time of celebration and speeches, praisinges have done to earn today's celebration. >> reporter: along with uplifting words of advice. >> surround yourself with people who are going to fill your cup until your cup runneth over. >> reporter: but this year, one boston area high school teacher has put a sobering spin on his commencement speech. >> none of you is special. you're not special. you're not exceptional. >> reporter: the brutal truth, david mccollough jr. says is backed up by tradition and fact. >> across the country, no fewer than 2.3 million seniors are graduating right now from more than 37,000 high schools. >> reporter: the wellesley high school english teacher downplaying this rite of passage, he says, to prove a point. >> we have of late, we americans, to our detriment come to love accolades more than genuine achievement the the relevant life is an achievement. not something that falls into your lap because you're a nice person or mommy ordered it from the caterer. >> reporter: his words were hailed online with co

for "today," michelle franzen, nbc news, new york. >>> there's more ahead this morning.nishes at sea. now there are new revelations about his erratic and sometimes disturbing behavior. we'll tell you more about it. first, this is "today" on nbc. homicide of young people in america has an impact on all of us. how can we save these young people's lives? as a police chief, i have an opportunity to affect what happens in a major city. if you want to make a difference, you have to have the right education. university of phoenix opened the door. my name is james craig, i am committed to making a difference, and i am a phoenix. visit phoenix.edu to find the program that's right for you. enroll now. let'"that looks hard"oject from to "that didn't take long". let's break out behr ultra... ...the number one selling paint and primer in one, now with stain blocker. each coat works three times harder, priming, covering, and blocking stains. let's go where no paint has gone before, and end up some place beautiful. more saving. more doing. that's the power of the home depot. right now

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michelle franzen has her incredible journey. michelle, good morning. >> good morning.p living in place to place, living in poverty, an unstable home life that continued until her parents abandoned her last summer just as she was starting her last year of high school. circumstances that only motivated the north carolina teen to stop at nothing to get her diploma and look toward a future in the ivy league. at age 18, she is wise beyond her years. >> i feel like i've had to grow up fast, but i don't really feel like it's been a really bad thing. >> heading into her senior year at burns high school in lawnville, north carolina, she was abandoned by her parents and left homeless. for the past year she struggled to find a place to live and worked as a custodian at her high school before and after classes. >> i get here about 6:00 and i work from 6:00 to 7:40 when the students start coming in. >> in between the straight a honor student worked even harder to graduate. >> i felt like it would just be easier if i gave up but it was never in me to give up because i did realize i

here's nbc's michelle franzen with more. >> residents and crews throughout the mid-atlantic began cleaningp what mother nature ripped apart. in just a matter of hours, tornadoes and thunderstorms barreled through four states and the d.c. area. one confirmed decade tore through the town of hampton, virginia. it was spotted as a water spout churning across the chesapeake bay. in maryland a dramatic rescue in prince george's county. three teens held on for dear life on a bridge after being trapped on a flooded river. they were trapped four hours before firefighters lifted them to safety. >> to see a situation where three young lives could have been swept away at a moment is scary. >> today one of the teens described those harrowing moments. >> we knew it was going to rain, but we did not know it was going to be endless. >> in washington, d.c., more close calls as drivers heading home during the evening commute barely escaped this flooded underpass. >> it rose up from three feet to six feet. >> just like that? >> just like that. >> in pittsburgh at robert morris university flames ripped apart