. >>> also, we've going to have an update on lauren scruggs who we have been we've been talking about throughout the morning. she was the model who was badly injured when she got off a plane and walked into a propeller. she spoke and saw herself for the first time since the accident. you'll hear what she had to say. it's remarkable. she has a lot of perspective about this. >>> also ahead, if you think if you think you cannot afford to buy a house, you might be surprised as what you can get for less than $is 100,000 around the country. barbara parker will be here to show it to us. and holiday decorations, we all love them. they're so beautiful. but they can also be dangerous. we're going to get some good advice so we can enjoy our holiday decorations. >> oh, we put the lights on the tree yesterday. that was the dangerous part. >> we were just trying to help people choose the right one for the holidays. >> why are you slurring? >> it was in the name of research. >> don't drink all that wine at this hour of the morning. meantime, let's get to natalie who has a check of the morning's top

if she could hear me, to squeeze my hand and she did. >> scruggs' parents maintained their christian faith while maintaining a vigil. sources say the pilot was hosting a party at his house near the lun way. and taking a look from the air. >> the faa says the young woman was exiting the aircraft when she moved right into the moving propeller blade. >> scruggs had risks. itself appeared as though she put up her left left hand to block her face. >> she was even responding today. this afternoon, she was moving around the bed, which was really good. she's uncomfortable, but moving, which is a good thing. >> the pirot did not respond to our request for an interview. the faa declined an interview but released a statement saying, we will release a pilot and any other witnesses. scruggs' spokesperson spokesperson handled this. >> we really believe that this is one of those horrific accidents that just happened. >> we know that lauren will soar because of this. and she was hit by a propeller, but she will be propelled to do god's work and to claim him in all that she does. >> now, there is no

but first, ryan owens looks at what happened. >> reporter: i'm lauren scruggs. to be here. >> reporter: lauren scruggs edited an online fashion magazine. a 23-year-old beautiful enough to be featured in any one of its photo shoots. this morning, her family is painfully aware she may never look like this again. although, she doesn't know it yet. >> i asked her if she can -- if she can hear me to squeeze my hand. and she said yes. she is responding more today. or this afternoon. >> moving her eyes. >> moving around in the bed. she's uncomfortable, but she's moving. >> reporter: scruggs suffered the horrific injury saturday night. she had just finished riding in a single-engine plane like this one, looking at christmas lights with a friend. the pilot landed at this private airport north of dallas, when scruggs somehow walked directly into its propeller. the blade slized the left side of her face and shoulder and severed her left hand. >> ate appears as if she put up her left hand to block her face, when it was suffered. that's the hand she lost. >> reporter: after

scruggs has been walking, talking to her parents. and yesterday, in fact, did something else for the very first time. >> she looked at herself for the first time today in the mirror. that was big. and she looked in and he says, it's not that bad. >> she understands she was in a bad accident. but she doesn't know -- she can't remember any detail of it at all. >> now, scruggs still faces a very long recovery. she may actually lose her left eye. and she's considered to be at serious risk of infection. >>> in nevada, crews have now recovered the bodies of all five victims of that sight-seeing helicopter crash. the pilot and four passengers went down in a remote canyon wednesday night. among them was a couple from kansas celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary. the helicopter company has had at least five accidents since 1994. >>> and updating another story we told you about yesterday. actor alec baldwin's battle against american airlines. a flight attendant's union is calling on the faa to fine baldwin for hi latest tantrum during his

i'm lauren scruggs.nd we're excited to be here today. >> reporter: lauren scruggs isn't just walking her way through rehab. apparently, now, she's biking, too. the 23-year-old model who was badly injured in an accident with a moving airplane propeller 17 days ago, is now riding a stationary bike all by herself. less than a week after doctors successfully removed her left eye, lauren is now getting back into routine. showering and dressing herself. stunning steps forward, providing hope for her family, who told reporters shortly after the accident, they didn't think she'd be alive today. >> we feel blessed in that. and although she has some challenges ahead and we do, too, it's -- we're lucky to have her. >> reporter: scruggs' parents remain optimistic. in a web posting entitled miracle after miracle, her mother writes that she is responding stunningly. lauren's family says her recovery will be long. the propeller sliced the left side of her face and shoulder and severed her left hand. >> we're here to ge

it's only been two weeks since the awful accident, badly mutilated lauren scruggs.owing everyone around her that this determined young woman is going to fight back. for lauren scruggs, the road to recovery has been miracle after miracle. according to her parents, writing on the blog where they have updating lauren's condition. >> i am lauren scruggs with lo-lo mag. >> reporter: and there is probably no better indication than her renewed passion for fashion. she is now picking out her own clothes, dressing herself and exercising to stay in shape. >> lauren is a little fighter. i mean, she -- you guys don't know her, but her personality, she loved to work out, she was healthy before, so the physical therapist would say do ten of these, raise your hand ten times and she does twelve. or take 10 steps and she takes 30. >> reporter: she has been moved from intensive care to rehab and requesting her favorite foods, sweet potatoes, seafood, brussel sprouts and chocolate cake. significant developments considering her critical injuries. her left hand was severed, a skull fr

even started a magazine about it called "lolo." 21-year-old lauren scruggs is in a hospital. the young fashionista was flying around saturday night looking at christmas lights. what began as a holiday treat ended up costing the young model and fashion editor her left hand. officials believe when the plane landed at a small private airport, scruggs got off and in a bizarre accident, walked into the propeller, which sliced at her like a giant blender. she was rushed to the hospital, where doctors removed what remained of her hand. it is also reported she suffered brain, face and shoulder injuries. her family insists she was not drinking at the time. >> we have a strong faith in jesus christ, as does our daughter, lauren. and it's going to be a tough road. a long way back. >> terrible accident. we're all -- all of us at the accident are saddened by this. >> just such a sad story. how she walked into it. a lot of questions about what exactly happened. thanks to lucy yang of wabc. >>> an arizona family is look forward to a heartfelt holiday season. their little boy's heart stopped

scruggs boarded a private plane in the dallas area to look at christmas lights from the air. directly into the still spinning propeller. >> it was dark and we were thinking that lauren came back to thank the pilot. and she didn't see that the propeller was winding down. >> lauren's family says it was an accident and they don't blame the pilot who has yet to comment on the incident. a part-time model and fashion blogger, lauren suffered a number of critical injuries, including a severed hand, trauma to her face and shoulder and the possibility she may still lose her left eye. >> she is excelling in the physical and occupational therapies and they're not as concerned about that, but it's more of a concern of the cognitive and the neurological therapy that she's going to need after this. >> reporter: despite the challenges, her parents say lauren is already showing signs of her old self. >> she has her spunk back, her personality. >> reporter: and her positive attitude as lauren used a mirror to loot a her favorite for the first time since the accident. she looked and she said,

scruggs lost her left hand and has no recognition of the accident. her family said she looked at the mirror for the first time, saying, quote, it's not that bad. she has lost sight in one eye but is expected to fully recover. >>> if you feel as if you have a hard time remembering things, you're not alone. doctors here in baltimore have helpful tips. >> i'm carey well. >> reporter: you've seen the show. >> only a few people in the world have the ability to remember everything. >> really? >> yes. there are people who can remember everything. >> i'm one of them. >> and they never forget anything at all. >> it's not up here. it's back here. your temperral lobes. >> the part of the brain that is particularly important for short-term memory sits inside the temperral lobe. it can grow literally can become bigger with exercise. >> reporter: so get some exercise. [ gunshots ] >> reporter: the shooting part is optional, the exercise can be less dramatic. >> if you walk one mile a day, you're more likely to remember better than if you just have a sedentary life

but the scruggs family does not blame the pilot. they believe lauren walked back towards his plane to say thank you. perhaps, as he was preparing to take off again. >> it would be one of your worst nightmares to see someone looming up out of the darkness towards a propeller that was running. >> reporter: a nightmare that forever changed one young woman's life in a split-second. for "good morning america," ryan owens, abc news, dallas. >> what a freak accident. >>> time, now, for another check of the weather. sam is here. >> it's going to be slow-going, today, overnight tonight, for a good part of the eastern half of the nation. we have six states under flood watches and warnings right now because of the heavy rain involved in the system. zero in on the areas shaded in red. it's getting two to three inches of rain, from virginia, to d.c., philly, into boston. that's two to three inches of rain in less than six hours. need to talk about the cold air in the middle of the country. denver at eight degrees. amarillo, at four. those are yo

. >>> and now, to an update on lauren scruggs, the 23-year-old texas woman who walked into the spinninger of an airplane. well, a little over a week after that accident, it's still touch-and-go for the aspiring model's recovery, but new details are emerging that suggest lauren is on the road to recovery.éngz >> wanted to let you know that we are starting a pumpkin carving contest on "lolo" magazine. >> reporter: just ten days after the propeller accident that left her critically injured, aspiring model and fashionista lauren scruggs is showing remarkable signs of recovery. on monday, her family posted a new blog entry online with hopeful news, saying "praise the lord, lauren's pain is much more manageable today. she has been eating some of her favorite foods today, sweet potatoes and hard boiled eggs." and probably the most encouraging news yet, her deeply religious parents write, "lauren was able to walk on her own today, such a miracle!" >> i am lauren scruggs with "lolo" mag, and -- >> reporter: the 23-year-old fashion blogger has a passion for flying. a week ago saturday, she flew o

this morning, you see a community stepping up for lauren scruggs. you're going to hear a surprisingly upbeat update from lauren's mom. >> this family has given so much to us. we need to give back. >> reporter: a big show of support overnight for lauren scruggs, the 23-year-old part-time model and fashion editor. at a restaurant in plano, texas, to help pay her medical bills. >> i'm really here for them. lauren has a long road ahead in recovery. >> anything we can do to help. >> reporter: on december 3rd, lauren took a plane ride with a family friend to get an aerial view of the christmas lights in north texas. after she got off the plane, she somehow walked into the propeller, which sliced her face, her shoulder and her left hand. on december 15th, doctors performed surgery to remove her left eye. throughout this incredibly painful period, friends and family says lauren has been upbeat. even managing to walk, bike and pick out her own clothes and dress herself. >> it is truly a miracle to think of how far she's come in such a short amount of time. >

that was the word lawrence scruggs spoke after she took her first steps after that propeller accident're thinking, what does that mean? she said win walked 30 steps. >> reporter: 30 steps on what could be a long road to recovery. in a news conference thursday, scruggs parents say their daughter doesn't remember the accident. >> she doesn't know -- she can't remember any detail of it at all. >> reporter: it was last saturday night, scruggs boarded a private plane in the dallas area to look at christmas lights in the air. the 23-year-old had just climbed out of the single engine plane when she walked directly into the propeller. >> it was dark and we were thinking that lauren came back to thank the pilot and she didn't see that the propeller was winding down. >> lauren's family says it was an accident and they don't plane the pilot who has yet to comment on the accident. a part-time model and fashion blogger, lauren suffers a number of critical injuries, including a severed hand, trauma to her face, head and shoulder and the possibility she may still lose her left eye. >> she is excelli

i'm lauren scruggs.xcited to be here today. >> reporter: lauren scruggs isn't just walking her way through rehab. apparently, now, she's biking, too. the 23-year-old model who was badly injured in an accident with a moving airplane propeller 17 days ago, is now riding a stationary bike all by herself. less than a week after doctors successfully removed her left eye, lauren is now getting back into routine. showering and dressing herself. stunning steps forward, providing hope for her family, who told reporters shortly after the accident, they didn't think she'd be alive today. >> we feel blessed in that. and although she has some challenges ahead and we do, too, it's -- we're lucky to have her. >> reporter: scruggs' parents remain optimistic. in a web posting entitled miracle after miracle, her mother writes that she is responding stunningly. lauren's family says her recovery will be long. the propeller sliced the left side of her face and shoulder and severed her left hand. >> we're here to get the insi

we are now joined by lauren's parents, jeff and cheryl scruggs. good morning to both of you. >> good morning. >> we just heard i believe it was last night that lauren was able to speak for the first time. describe what that moment meant for you, cheryl. >> yeah. just seeing her trying to open her right eye just a tiny bit and her moving her lips. she said hi. and that just brought us to our knees. >> when you look at her injuries and you hear that had she been standing any more to the left or the right as she was hit in the chest and the head that she might not be alive, are you seeing this, jeff, as something of a miracle? >> yeah, we're just -- gosh, we're just so grateful to the lord for saving her. lauren has a strong faith in jesus christ, as we do as a family. we've been surrounded by friends that have been praying, lifting us up. it's been a really horrendous two days, but we do see some bright signs ahead. you know, we just thank all of those that have been praying for us. we're grateful. >> what are doctors telling you about her challenge

scruggs suffered a fractured skull, severe cuts cuts and had her left hand amputated. she is recovering in the hospital. her family said no one is at fault. the faa is investigating. >>> parents may be to blame for people to quit struggling with smoking. nicotine addiction could be genetic. researchers looked at twins. and nearly 65% quit within a year of each other. identical twins share the same dna. >>> a 12-person task force is now involving the pepper spraying of a student at the uc davis campus. >> reporter: along with former supreme court justice, several other nonstudents rounded out the list. including uc davis law professor. the four students on the committee are either law students or have played a role in uc davis student government. >> we wanted the uc davis community to be well represented. >> reporter: the other members tasked with figuring out what went wrong on november 18th, include faculty and staff at uc davis, in addition to two staff. the president's office used recommendations from davis's organization. >> the whole idea was to take a fair and un

. >>> another story we've been covering, lauren scruggs was nearly killed when she walked into a plane's spinning propeller. ten days later, the model's recovery has taken yet another encouraging turn. we're going to hear from her father in a little while. >>> also coming up, a wealth of topics with today's professionals, everything from denver broncos quarterback tim tebow, wearing his religion on his sleeve, to a new survey on what people are willing to do without to lose weight, and you might be surprised by what most of us would not give up to lose weight, matt. >>> all right, but we begin on a tuesday morning with a big day in court for jerry sandusky. nbc's national investigative correspondent michael isikoff is at the courthouse in bellefonte, pennsylvania. michael, good morning to you. >> reporter: good morning, matt. a little more than a month after prosecutors first charged jerry sandusky with repeatedly abusing young boys, they're planning to lay out new details of their case today in what is expected to be a grueling, all-day hearing in this local courtroom. it's a classic co

natalie morales has the latest on the recovery of lauren scruggs, the texas model who was struck by an airline propeller. and actor christopher plumber talks about his new film "the girl with the dragon tattoo." >>> keep it on this channel for continuing local news, weather sports and more. 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.

she's uncomfortable and moving, a good thing. >> scruggs is the editor for an online fashion magazine. >>> coming up at the bottom of the hour, a montgomery man is sentenced for putting out a hit on his wife. she recounts the ordeal as her former husband is support to prison. >>> a local county is deciding whether to enforce a controversial curfew, what they decided. >>> and should the morning after pill be put on store shelves? how the fda is igthe thighing -- ignighting this debate. ebat >> merry christmas from the hughes family in germany. >> i'm steve. >> i'm scarlet. >> i'm britney. >> and im -- [ indiscernible ] >> i would like to wish my mom, sister, and brothers in the washington, d.c., area, a merry christmas. >> i would like to wish my parents and all of my sisters, ginger, wendy,ing abouty, christy, lisa, and terra a very merry christmas and all of our friends in the northern virginia area, especially woodbridge, virginia, a very merry christmas. >> merry christmas, everyone. >> we love you. you.  [ screaming ] [ zapping ] there goes dwayne's car. oh, man. there g

but this morning, lauren scruggs' parents are calling them a miracle. for the first time since her horrific accident, the 23-year-old model is walking the hallways of her dallas hospital all on her own. she is even eating some of her favorite foods again. sweet potatoes and hard-boiled eggs, as her father told us late last week. >> it's just a miracle to see the progress she's been making. >> reporter: a tough journey that began just more than a week ago. when an airplane propeller sliced into scruggs' face and shoulder and cut off her left hand. the latest update on a website set up by family and friends exclaims, lauren's pain is much more manageable today. >> she's got her spunk back. her personality. >> reporter: although she's more alert and talking, doctors remain concerned she may lose her left eye. but are pleased with the healing of her facial nerves. >> she's smiling. she's able to raise both eyebrows. that doesn't sound like a big deal. but they were worried about the nerve on one side. but she's able to do that. we're so grateful and thankfu

it's only been two weeks since the awful accident, badly mutilated lauren scruggs.ing everyone around her that this determined young woman is going to fight back. for lauren scruggs, the road to recovery has been miracle after miracle. according to her parents, writing on the blog where they have updating lauren's condition. >> i am lauren scruggs with lo-lo mag. >> reporter: and there is probably no better indication than her renewed passion for fashion. she is now picking out her own clothes, dressing herself and exercising to stay in shape. >> lauren is a little fighter. i mean, she -- you guys don't know her, but her personality, she loved to work out, she was healthy before, so the physical therapist would say do ten of these, raise your hand ten times and she does twelve. or take 10 steps and she takes 30. >> reporter: she has been moved from intensive care to rehab and requesting her favorite foods, sweet potatoes, seafood, brussel sprouts and chocolate cake. significant developments considering her critical injuries. her left hand was severed, a skull frac

i'm lauren scruggs. >> reporter: 23-year-old model and fashion editor, lauren scruggs, who barely survivedible plane propeller accident, just ten days ago, is recovering, after yet another delicate surgery. in a statement, her family says, quote, we are thankful for all the strong and powerful prayers for this and the surgery today, end quote. >> she really shouldn't be alive. so, we feel blessed in that. and although she has challenges ahead, and we do, too, we're lucky to have her. >> reporter: wednesday, doctors successfully removed her left eye, implanting a prosthetic in its place. overnight, friends and family called it for lo, as she's known to them. and saying, quote, the doctors were excited about the surgery. and said everything went as well as planned, end quote. hopefully praying that the many surgeries are behind her. lauren's parents say she made incredible progress this week. >> she has her spunk back. her personality. >> reporter: she's alert. she's talking. and walking down the hospital hallway three times all by herself. >> come on. >> come on, baby. >> come on. >> report

doctors just removed lauren scruggs' left eye. and her family says everything went as planned.year-old walked into the rotating propeller of an airplane earlier this month. it gashed her face and shoulder and sliced off her hand. >>> doctors in chile have successfully separated 10-month-old conjoined twins of 20 hours of surgery. the next few days will be critical. the operation was complex because the girls shared many of the same internal organs. >>> marijuana use among teenagers is on the rise for the fourth-straight year, with 1 of every 15 students smoking pot almost daily. 25% of eighth, tenth and 12th graders admit using marijuana in the last year. up 21% from 2007. they say the study suggests teens see pot as less risky. >>> now, we turn to some ports news this morning. some hockey and college hoops, as well. here's espn news. >> good morning. my name is todd grisham. this is your espn news update. we start on the ice. minnesota wild, the best team in the nhl, facing the chicago blackhawks. third period, 2-2. and the blackhawks, jonathan toews scores to make it 3-2. fiv

>> i am lauren scruggs with "lolo" mag. >> reporter: the 23-year-old fashion blogger has a passion for week ago saturday, she flew over dallas in a single-engine plane with a friend to see christmas lights around the city. but as she exited the plane, she accidentally walked into the still spinning propeller. lauren suffered a number of critical injuries. her left hand was severed. she has a skull fracture, a brain injury, a broken collar bone, and she may still lose her left eye. >> she's got her spunk back, her personality. >> yeah, her personality. >> she's smiling. her face, you know, she's able to raise both eyebrows. >> yeah. >> that doesn't sound like a big deal, but they were worried about the nerve on one side. >> reporter: friends and neighbors have rallied around lauren. over the weekend, they raised nearly $15,000 to help pay her extensive medical bills. >> most are just our regular customers, would come in and they have thrown money in the bucket. >> reporter: lauren's facebook page and blog are full of well wishes from friends and strangers around the world, praying for h

and she did. >> scruggs suffered several other injuries to her head, brain and shoulder.in the incident. >>> new mexico and west texas are covered in snow this morning after getting slammed by a wintry blast. cars lost control on the slippery highways and thousands of homes and businesses lost power. hundreds of schools were also shut down and classes delayed at lubbock and amarillo. >> 'tis the season. >> that's right. >> the kids are enjoying the day. >> they like the day off, let's face it. >> who doesn't? >> here is your tuesday forecast -- wet, mild from maine to the mid-atlantic. rain drevedrevens -- drenches, nashville, atlanta and montgomery. showers and thunderstorms along the gulf coast from new orleans to tallahassee. some of the coldest air of the season from minnesota down to texas. >> just 39 in dallas. 29, kansas city. 21, omaha. 62, new york. 65, baltimore. 54, new orleans. albuquerque, 27. salt lake city, 30. billings, 40. >> well put this one directly in the "they had it coming to them" file. saturday at burgers, dogs, wings in albuquerque. three guys we

. >>> we have an update on lauren scruggs who walked into a moving propeller of a moving airplane.ffered life changing injuries. as janet reports, her parents say she has given them reason for hope. >> reporter: 30. that was the word she spoke as she took her first steps after the devastating propeller accident. >> we were thinking what does that mean? she said i walked 30 steps. >> reporter: 30 steps on what could be a long road to recovery. her parents said their daughter doesn't remember the accident. >> she was in a bad accident, but don't know. she can't remember any detail of it at all. >> reporter: last saturday night, she boarded a private plane look at christmas lights from the air. the 23-year-old climbed out of the single engine, two-seater plane when she walked into the still spinning propeller. >> it was dark. we were thinking she came back to thank the pilot. she didn't see the propeller was winding down. >> reporter: her family says it was an accident. they don't blame the pilot who has yet to comment on the incident. a part-time model and fashion blogger she suffere

. >> reporter: for lauren scruggs, the road to recovery has been miracle after miracle. are writing on her blog. there's probably no better ipd indication she's returning to herself than her renewed passion for fashion. the fashion blogger, according to to family is picking out her own clothes, dressing herself and exercising to stay in shape. >> lauren is a fighter. you guys don't know her. her personality, she loved to work out. she was healthy before. the physical therapist says do ten of these, raise your leg and she does 12 or take 20 steps and she takes 30. >> reporter: she's been moveed from intensive care to rehab. she's requesting her favorite foods. significant developments about her critical injuries. her left hand severed, skull fracture and brain injury. doctors had to remove her left eye. >> she shouldn't be alive. we feel blessed that that. she has challenges ahead and we do, too. we are lucky to have her. we really are. >> reporter: they know they could have lost her the night she walked into the propeller of a small plane after getting out of it after da

. >>> lauren scruggs is a model from texas who accidentally walked into the still spinning propeller of an airplane last week. her injuries are severe. her family says she is making progress. she's taken her first steps since the accident. her parents say she does not remember the incident but understands she was seriously injured. they say she's already showing signs of her old self, especially after she used a mirror to look at her face. >> she looked and said it's not that bad. that was encouraging. she still has her beautiful smile. >> she was critically injured after getting off the small plane at night in the dark in dallas, texas. her parents believe she turned around to thank the pilot and walked into the still spinning propeller. her hand was severed. the family remains optimistic about her recovery. >>> still ahead, four people arrested in a car rim theft ring in the area. how the crime was uncovered. >> marron barry's story may be made into a movie. a hollywood big timer has been tapped to play the roll. >>> coming up in sports, big ben takes a hit then delivers one to the