an this is savannah guthrie. >> hi, savannah guthrie. hi, savannah guthrie. >> hi. bye. >> savannah, i don't know if you know how much we miss you, but we miss you a lot. we're glad you're here. i like strolling down the sidewalks with you. is that delicious? she likes hers with alcohol. >> will you post with me and your friends? hello. savannah. i love it. all right, savannah. time to put your toes in the water. this is it, baby. we miss you and we'll be home soon. >> next best thing to being there >> did any of those speedo guys ask for my number or anything? >> all of them. >> by the way, one of them came up to me and said can i kiss it? he asked before he knew anything. she's gorgeous. >> go on in for a wet one. >> that's so cute. >> by the way, savannah, we also have been compiling a rio swag bag for you. there are some really cool items here. we'll bring that home to you as well. >> i hope it's extra large. i miss you guys so much. i have to say that piece was so cute. i'm so hormonal i started to get a little teary. thank you. makes me feel good. >> we miss y

savannah, it's great to see you. we have reached the final hours of our countdown to tonight's opening ceremony of the 2016 olympic games. and i'll be honest with excited, i'm nervous, i'm all of the above. >> you're nervous? what? you don't have to do a back flip, do you? >> no, you know what, that's actually right. you know, we are hosting the opening ceremony. what do we have to be nervous about? we're not competing in the olympic games. i have to tell you, savannah, you've been to the olympics, you know sometimes in the morning when the crowd gathers here at an olympic set, you have wonderful, little moments, unexpected moments. i had one of those a second ago. i was walking around talking to on copacabana beach, and i walked up to this guy right here, and i said, hey, love the t-shirts, team usa, you've got the simone biles faces there. who are you here to see? he goes, oh, she's my sister. that's ron biles right there. >> hi, everybody. >> this is his friend, brandon. >> brandon, yes. >> are you nervous? >> yes

savannah, thanks very much. as much as i respect ari, i don't think the story has ch there are a couple details that have changed. the basics of the story have remained the same. you talked to him first. >> >> one thing we're hearing that's different is that he told me that the car was sideswiped and pulled over to gas station. when you spoke to him, it was not sideswiped. car was standing still when people came up with guns and badges. >> he talks about the guy pulled a gun out and put it to his >> they agree on that. he embellished when he told the guy, look, i'm not getting down on the ground. if you got a gun, you can use it. he told me that. he never had that dirty harry moment. >> what was his demeanor when he was talking to you explaining it all? >> he was tired and shocked that it happened. he talked about the athletes. the surveillance tape of the village 7:00 a.m. the judge said they were joking and casual. we weren't joking. we were in shock. i asked him pointedly, i said there are skeptics who think

savannah? >> absolutely. tourism so important where you're standing, kerry, thank you. >>> now to the presidential race and a rare admission from donald trump. the republican nominee some of the divisive comments he's made along the way. nbc's hallie jackson is in charlotte where trump had a rally last night. hey, hallie. good morning. >> reporter: hi, savannah. good morning. for donald trump and his running mate from charlotte now to baton rouge, the two will be making an unexpected stop in louisiana to tour the flood damage there. it's not the only surprise from trump, as you mentioned. it's something we've almost never heard from him, this rare admission of regret about as gotten, donald trump sounding strikingly more humble in charlotte. listen. >> sometimes in the heat of debate and speaking on a multitude of issues, you don't choose the right words or you i have done that. and believe it or not, i regret it. >> reporter: trump today is rolling out his first general election ad hitting hillary clinton an

savannah? >>> meantime another controversy exploding around donald trump tonight as he plans a major speech on immigration later this week. now an african-american pastor in charge of wooing minority voters for the trump campaign is being accused of waging a firestorm on social media. hallie jackson has detail which some viewers may find offense sieve. >> reporter: tonight, another controversial tweet, not from donald trump but a top supporter, pastor mark tweeting that cartoon of hillary clinton in black face. the pastor leading trump's efforts to reach out to african-american voters. >> we put a black face on the democrat party, but the system that's behind the democrat party is still designed to not raise up america to the highest level that there can be. >> reporter: another trump surrogate echoing part of that message. >> the image is not appropriate, but the message is that pastor burns and a lot of other african-american around the country are sick and tired of being talked down to. >> r

savannah? >> we are still covering this raging wildfire in california that has grown even larger overnight that threatens even more homes now. how are crews going to get it under control? we'll take you there live when we give you the news in a couple minutes. back to you in rio. >> savannah, thank you very much. let us begin this morning with that alleged armed robbery targeting ryan lochte and three teammates. brazilian authorities investigate diskrepensy in their story. >> reporter: ryan lochte at home watching events unfold. two teammates pulled from the plane interrogated for hours. another teammate, jimmy feigen is in rio at an unknown location. leaving a rio de janeiro police station now at the center of an embarrassing international incident surrounded by cameras refusing to answer questions. >> ryan lochte is sticking to his story. are you doing the same thing? >> reporter: hours earlier jack conger and gunnar bentz were removed from their flight. >> they are cooperating to the full ex

we miss you, savannah, big time! >> please bring home a capadinya milkshake for me. without alcohol! she turned 2! she misses you guys. >> oh, happy birthday. >> happy birthday. >> we love val. >> all right, savannah, we'll see you in a little while. >> all right, guys. >> tell me, you were born here? >> i was born and raised in rio, and i moved to the u.s. when i was 22. >> to where? >> to connecticut. >> really? >> what street? >> right next to kathie lee's house. >> i went to study cooking. and then when i got married and had kids, i went to connecticut. >> okay, wonderful. >>nk >> this is delicious. this salad is so good. >> thank you so much, guys. so happy to be here. >> by the way, we have big things planned for our return to new york. next week we're going to keep the olympic energy going. in fact, you'll be able to go for gold right for yourself on the plaza. >> it's going to be great. plus, a special series called "today's originals," where we pick design and bring a product to market for good cause. and ge

savannah? thank you. >>> and now to that massive out-of-control wildfire that's happening in southern california, consuming homes and forcing tens of thousands to evacuate. nbc's jo ling kent has the latest for us this morning. hi, jo. good morning. >> reporter: good morning, savannah. hundreds ore fighting this blaze overnight as more plan to join them from across the state of california as this wildfire continues to spread. a devastating blaze tearing through southern california overnight, moving fast, tripling in size and engulfing more than 18,000 acres of land. more than 82,000 residents have evacuated. >> i looked outside and i saw the flames, and it's ready to go. >> reporter: as air workers worked tirelessly to douse the flames. >> oh my god, look at the flames. >> the blue cut fire started tuesday east of los angeles, of emergency. >> police have been running up and down the street and telling us that we need to get out. and i guess it's really moving fast. >> reporter: the fire is the

savannah? >> okay, looking forward. guys, thanks. >>> here at home, hillary clinton is expanding her lead in the presidential race. take a look at the latest nbc news/"wall street journal" national poll. it shows 47% for clinton and donald trump and his running mate, mike pence. it has been a rough week for the republican ticket. almost daily missteps, some fiery criticism from republican party leaders, and yes, almost daily jabs from president obama. we've got two reports this morning, starting with nbc's hallie jackson. she's on the campaign trail this morning in wisconsin. hallie, good morning. >> reporter: hi, savannah. good morning to you. and this morning, donald trump is now responding to president obama's latest rema overnight "the twez should ask the dnc how they rigged the election for bernie sanders." trump leaned into his controversial rigged system critique as president obama leans into his own attacks, too. on the president's birthday, no surprises. >> i don't even really know whe

let's go back to savannah in new york. she has the other top stories of the morning. savannah? >> let's catch you up. this morning donald trump released his first tv ads of the general election. also he plans to visit flood victims in baton rouge today after a rally in north carolina where the first time he acknowledged some of the things he had said during this presidential race may have gone too far. >> sometimes in the heat of multitude of issues, you don't choose the right words or you say the wrong thing. i have done that. and believe it or not, i regret it. >> meantime hillary clinton met thursday in new york city with top police officials from around the country. she called for restoring bonds of trust between police officers and communities. for the first time, a member of the obama administration has $400 million cash payment to iran in january and release of four american captives there. on thursday defense department spokesman john kirby said the payment was used for negotiating leverage. he also acknowledged the money was withheld until the americans left iran but t

now, police at that time also said that savannah's mother, ashley, left savannah at this daycare for several weeks at a time, only showing up to make injuries and discovered that she also had acute methamphetamine exposure. now, allison clement also has a plea deal on the table. that deal is going to expire on tuesday. now, we are told that she has not accepted that deal yet. she has until tuesday. if not, she will go to trial later this month -- actually, in september. >> all right. maryellen thank you. >>> 5:04. they should have their own department in the valley. un phoenix fire having to rescue another person saturday on piestwa peak after a woman was too tired and dehydrated to make it down on her own. she was on her way up for a second time when she became dizzy and did not have enough water. a hiker says she was going past her when the woman flagged him down for help. >> she was distressed. not feeling well. 911? she said, please. >> thankfully that guy was there. fire crews helped her rehydrate and assisted her down the mountain. >>> let's go over to prescott. visit a playgro

savannah. >> miguel almaguer starting us off. a big day and big night with donald trump delivering what's billed as a major speech on immigration. his big campaign issue and letting people know exactly where he stands on some issues, even some who support him. hallie jackson is learning new details about trump's high stakes speech. >> reporter: donald trump, heading back across the border as his mexico city meeting overshadows the biggest policy speech of his campaign so far on immigration. what to expect? clarity presumably do with the estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants still living here. >> does he still plan to round up and deport every last illegal immigrant starting on day one. >> you will hear how he plans to address the 11 million. >> reporter: trump said he's not softening up. >> i had people say it's a hardening. >> reporter: even some of his advisors argue for a more moderate stance on deportation. >> wholesale importation is a lo gist call impossibility. >> reporter: he won't support in a path to citizenship,

savannah? >> miguel almaguer at the airport, thank you. >>> tonight, florida is bracing for impact as a tropical threat we have been telling you about closes in. there are concerns about a flooding nightmare and meteorologist dylan dryer is here. >> the tropics are getting very active right now. we have hurricane gaston which is a category 2 storm that's moved out to depression 8 and 9. 9 as already dropped more than a foot of rain on parts of cuba. it should become a tropical storm sometime tomorrow and take this turn towards florida by the end of the week. that could produce tornadoes and flooding rain, we also have tropical depression 8 off the coast of north carolina, it should also become a tropical storm at some point tomorrow, producing rip currents and perhaps flooding rain across the carolinas as well where up to five inches of possible. but in south florida, there could be up to ten inches of rain which could lead to flooding by the end of the week. >>> after days of ever growing outr

notorious, i'm well-known in savannah. a lot of people know me. so i got "notorious."spelled wrong because i only had eight fingers. dbd across my throat means death before dishonor. i did another one of these tattoos on someone else and i misspelled the "h" and it said death before disonor. i said, i swear i didn't mean to do that. he was like, i'm messed up for life now. i was like, i'll try to squeeze an "h" in there. we ended up trying to squeeze the "h" in there. didn't look too good. >> billiter has it bed to perform tattoos even though he knows he gets risked kicking out of the substance abuse program that he's counting on to help him get a favorable ruling in his case. jail staff allowed us to give some inmates a small camera to record their thoughts. billiter used to use his camera time to record himself creating a tattoo on his cell mate, jack spell. >> this is a little tattoo parlor right here. >> never thought i'd be getting a tattoo from a sharpened staple. got all the ink right here. mix it up with some shampoo and some soap. >> this is the tattoo i'm abo

you'll be making money so you can pay back those student loans." 001 savannah musser, 5:30 (ish) savannah's outlook is right in line with a new bank-rate money pulse survey... it finds 9 out of 10 people with a 4-year-degree think college was a good investment... and the older the graduate, the more keen they are on college... a whopping 97-percent of degree but 21-percent of millennials 18- to-25-years old say college was not worth it, more than any other group surveyed... students we talked to have an idea on why that is... "first of all, honestly the cost." 002 terrance glanton, 2:16 u-s news and world report says the cost of a higher education has more than doubled since 19-86, when adjusted for inflation... and the college board shows that right now -- a public, 4-year, in- state degree will run you almost $9 dollars (exact for fs: $8,743)... that doesn't even include room and board... "you really have to look at your investment in college as long term, almost like a 401k investment." 004 russ coughenour russ coughenour helps run the career services center at u-s-f... he says a degree

savannah. thanks very much. let's bring in natalie in for a look at the olympic action from a day that saw the u.s. not winning a gold medal for the first time, first olympic day since the 12th day of beijing. >> wow. >> i know. it's incredible. you mentioned that dramatic track finish and a rare slip from simone biles. there was also weather and >> a dive by miller for the line. >> in the women's 400 meters, a photo finish. shaunae miller winning gold and upsetting allyson felix in her signature event. >> now felix. >> catching up to miller, felix had eyes on a fifth gold medal despite the second place finish, felix is now the most decorated woman in track and field history winning her seventh medal in what could be her last olympic competition. >> it's been a fight all season. i gave it all i had tonight. >> the dramatic race capping an already chaotic day here in rio. heavy rain delayed several events. earlier in the day, an overhead camera broke away from its cable at the olympic park seven

savannah back in new york city with the other top stories of the morning. savannah? >> guys, good morning. in the news, the red cross says the flooding disaster in louisiana is now the worst since superstorm sandy four years ago. search teams found more victims in the baton rouge area on monday raising the death toll to at least seven. about 11,000 people are now in shelters and louisiana's governor is urging them to stay there until crews are able to clear the roads. of baton rouge now as rain swollen rivers surge toward the gulf of mexico. >>> a man described by police as a serial arsonist has been charged with setting the wildfire that destroyed more than 175 homes and other buildings in northern california. nbc's jo ling kent is in the town of lower lake this morning. good morning to you. >> reporter: good morning. 17 counts of arson. also developing right now. a suspect has been named for being a serial arsonist. his name is damin pashilk. he'll be booked in court tomorrow. this may lead to answers for a community that is hurting after 175 homes and businesses b

savannah savannah's. she's back in new york. >> we miss you! >> we're almost done.e puns. >> of course. >> he said, i've been watching gymnastics so much it made me try the parallel bars. so i had a drink at the bar on the roof, then i went down and had a drink at the bar in the lobby. >> my man! >> he hasn't changed a bit. >> i miss him. >> that's our boy. >> bob, i missed you most of all! >> savannah, just a couple days left and we're waiting to come home and see you. >> i cannot wait. >> we miss you, savannah, big time! >> please bring home a capadinya milkshake for me. without alcohol! without alcohol! >> how's val? >> she's great! she turned 2! she misses you guys. >> oh, happy birthday. >> happy birthday. >> we love val. >> all right, savannah, we'll see you in a little while. >> all right, guys. >> tell me, you were born here? >> i was born and raised in rio, and i moved to the u.s. when i was 22. >> to where? >> to connecticut. >> really? >> what street? >> right next to kathie lee's house. >> i went to study cooking. and then when i got married and had kids

seeing that, savannah. first, the latest olympic action and overnight developments on that incident involving ryan lochte and three teammates. peter alexander is here with the latest on that. >> this story has been developing about as fast as these guys race through the pool these days. two american swimmers returned home to the u.s. touching down in miami after resolving their status with brazilian police. also new this morning, a third police he gave police a revised statement about that night last weekend and appears one step closer to finally heading home. overnight hours after giving statements to brazilian authorities, american swimmers jack conger and gunnar bentz allowed to fly out of rio. their lawyer says they were never charged with anything and never investigated. they were just witnesses. this is surveillance video that brazilian place say the video from gas station surveillance cameras prove that lochte lied when he said they were robbed at gunpoint. they vandalized a restroom before armed sec

savannah guthrie, everyone. "today" airs weekday mornings on nbc. we'll be right back with shiri appleby and constance zimmer. [ cheers and applause ] ? one coat, yes! ? there is a day, for every number. ? ? there is a time, for all my slumbers. ? ? and i can see, that i can't run and hide. ? one coat guaranteed marquee interior. behr's most advanced paint. what makes a lipton meal? first you start with this. these guys. a place like shhh! no. found it! and definitely lipton ice tea. lots of it. a lipton meal is what you bring to it. and the refreshing taste of lipton iced tea. when i crave a smoke that's all i crave. that's where this comes in. only nicorette gum has patented dual-coated technology for great taste. plus nicorette gum gives you intense craving relief. ? just when you think you know what a computer is. you see a keyboard that can just, get out of the way. and a screen you can touch. and even write on. when you see a computer that can do all that, it might just make you wonder... hey, what else can it do? covering is caring. because c

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savannah? khizr and ghazala khan are with us this morning. i can only imagine what the last few days have been like for you. mr. khan, did you accept this kind of reaction to your speech and how did you think mr. trump himself would respond? >> i did not expect that but the good thing out of all of this has come that there had been so much love, so much courtesy, so much support. i am just my belief in the goodness of america is reaffirmed. every street corner, we came into this building, everywhere people are supporting our message, people are hugging, holding hands, wanting to get pictures, that is the goodness of america that i was speaking about so the candidate had cognizant of the goodness of this country. >> mrs. khan, one of the things donald trump suggested after your husband spoke at the convention is that you were not allowed to speak. he didn't get into details about who he thought might be preventing you. what is the truth of it? why didn't you speak at the convention? >> actually,

savannah, can i tell you, our thursday morning. and a gold medal handed to hoda for olympic selfie taking here. >> there she is. >> there you go. >> all right. let's check back in with you in a second. i'm excited about karate. maybe there's hope for us yet. >> there's been severe weather going on out in the southwest. we've been telling you about monsoons that would be developing. this utah/arizona border. flash flooding breaking out and we'll probably see more of that today and vivid lightning in las vegas last night. we'll probably see more today. the monsoon still active and so all of that moisture streaming up. we have flash flood watches and warnings stretching from southern california all of the way into colorado and the rockies. heaviest rain in the san juan mountains of colorado. beautiful here in the northeast. warm weather making its way into the pacific northwest and the host country brazil kicking off soccer today. they are going to take on south africa at 3:00 p.m. game time 3:00 p.m. you can watch coverage on nbc spo