Country. But now the Prime Minister has been freed. Our reporter joins us live from beirut. Atia, good morning to you, and whats the latest . Reporter as you mentioned, just hours after his abduction by armed gunmen in the hotel he was residing in, the libyan Prime Minister has been released. The rebels who took him, in fact, said that the reason they captured him was because of bribery and corruption charges. They dont claim to have a connection to the u. S. Raid on saturday, but many speculate that there may be a connection, that the u. S. Commando raid that captured al liby for his involvement in the 1998 u. S. Embassy bombings in both kenya and tanzania may have been connected to the reason that this Prime Minister was abducted because they say that he did not condemn the raid. Both rebels and government officials were upset by the fact he didnt condemn the raid, and instead he said that u. S. And libyan relations would remain the same. But again, he released the details of todays events are very murky, but one thing is very clear, that the continued chaos and turmoil just two years after the thenousted leader moammar gadhafi. Thank you for the latest on that. New development to tell you in the Edward Snowden saga. Snowdens father, lon, arrived in moscow to visit his son. Its the first visit between the two since the selfproclaimed nsa whistleblower fled the u. S. Lon saying he has no idea what edwards intentions are now. After an uproar benefits to the fallen are restored but only through charity. The Fisher House Foundation will officially pick up the costs of the payments the Government Shutdown halted. At least 26 Service Members have died since the shutdown began. The department of defense will reimburse them. The president says he will not wait for congress. The theory that we should shut down the government as a negotiation tactic should never have been done in the first place. And it does a disservice to all the men and women in uniform and all those veterans who sacrifice for our freedom. The house unanimously voted wednesday in favor of the 100,000 socalled death gratuity to families within three days of a soldiers death. But its unclear when the senate will take up that measure. Okay, so we are ten days deep now, and today signs of open communication between parties. But not completely here. The white house invited all 232 House Republicans for a meeting today. But House Speaker john boehner rejected that. Instead, he chose 18 select members to attend the meeting including himself and majority leader eric cantor. White house spokesman jay carney says the president is, quote, disappointed. A white house aide says the president is also expected to meet with Senate Democrats today. Meanwhile, the president met with House Democrats wednesday in whats being called a constructive and positive discussion, but House Minority leader nancy pelosi said the shutdown is a sad scenario for the country. To the Republican Leadership in the house, we accept your number. We accept your pass to the table. Take yes for an answer. We havent heard any offer of a shortterm one way or another. Pelosi added the debt ceiling needs to be lifted but said shes skeptical of a shortterm raise. Mine whieanwhile, the shutd impact on americans. Benefits could stop november 1st. Its a warning from the Veterans Affairs secretary and another hit to the military community. Eric sheinseki said vets may no receive payments next month. It would also affect surviving spouses and children of vets. The shutdown has also left nearly 8,000 v. A. Employees furlough. Usa today is reporting a massive economic toll on national parks. They are losing 76 million and 715,000 visitors each day. While much of the shutdown is blamed on funding disputes over obama care, well, a congressional hearing wednesday examined the irss role in implementing and enforcing obama care. A congressman asked an irs official if she was familiar with the crucible. Heres part of their very bizarre exchange. Youre under oath. Have you been con sosorting wit the devil . Not to my knowledge, sir. Are reports that you can fly accurate . Greatly exaggerated, sir. Have you been involved in any way in trying to pervert our youth . In salem or anywhere else . I certainly hope not, sir. Are you sure . Yes, sir. A lot of interesting things being said there and heads scratched as well. Investigators are trying to figure out why retired Police Officer went on a shooting spree. It happened wednesday outside the federal courthouse in the town of wheeling, west virginia. Its about an hour southwest of pittsburgh. This morning the gunman has been identified as 55yearold thomas ticard. Police say he fired more than two dozen rounds into the building before being shot and killed by responding officers. Two security guards were treated for cuts, but no other injuries were reported. He served as a city Police Officer for more than two decades and retired 13 years ago. He was armed with an assault weapon and a handgun. Its unclear right now if both weapons were used there. It was an ominous scene off the coast of North Carolina earlier this week, a surf fisherman capturing this giant waterspout on video surrounded by black clouds. It looked like the end of the earth, bill karins, as we see this video right here. Yeah, that was a cold front that went off the east coast. We get waterspouts like that. We will, especially as we head into the storm season. That storms actually making for miserable weather on the east coast. In the west we had our own storm through southern california. We mentioned yesterday the rain was coming. We got 0. 04 of an inch. A tiny bit. San diego got, like, 0. 07. The showers are starting to dry up a bit. There are still good rains around prescott. Even white in the highest elevations in the peak near flagstaff, probably getting a little snow up on the snow bowl. Phoenix itself, looks like showers trying to work your way. As far as the other weather on the west coast, snow trying to move through the northwest. As far as the forecast goes, its chilly out there especially idaho, nevada and also in northern california. Its a cool morning. Definitely need the jacket but at least the sunshine there will make it nice this afternoon. But still a chance of showers in the northwest where we dry it out where we saw the first measurable the nicest forecasts there, ukiah, california, 77 and sunny. 77 and sunny, id take that every day. We will. And 0. 04, thats like a downpour in vegas. Out of 57 beverages tested, well tell you which one was the best remedy for a hangover. Plus a bad place to break down. Yeah, right on the railroad tracks. Holy moly. Details of that in two. Welcome back. The United States is putting a temporary freeze on military aid to egypt. Its because of julys ousting of former president muhammed morsi. Not all aid is being spended. Items like attack helicopters, missiles and warplanes are no longer being delivered. The threestar vice admiral in charge of all u. S. Nuclear forces was relieved of duty on wednesday. Vice admiral tim jardinia is under investigation for possibly using counterfeit gambling chips at a casino. Stunning video out of texas showing a train absolutely troying that 18wheeler that was truck on the tracks. Amazingly no one was injured in that crash. Nothing stopping that train. A 43yearold texas man was put to death wednesday for the 1998 killings of his parents and grandmother. His execution was not without controversy, though. Some claim the drugs used to kill him were improperly purchased. With a nationwide salmonella outbreak affecting more than 270 people, the department of agriculture is threatening to shut down the three californiabased facilities that are responsible for that. Foster farms has until later today to come up with a solution for, quote, poor sanitary practices in those facilities. Lets take you to business and cnbcs courtney reagan. Good morning to you, courtney. Good morning, richard. Fidelity investments, the Largest Mutual Fund company, has sold its holdings of shortterm Treasury Bonds ahead of next weeks debt ceiling deadline. While it expects congress to reach a deal to raise the debt limit, its taking precautions to protect investors. Tmobile is getting rid of International Data and voice charges in more than 100 countries. Starting on halloween customers wont have to worry about getting hit with socalled roaming charges. If they fail to sign up for an International Plan before traveling overseas. And burger king has found a way to get people to try its new lower fat satisfries. This weekend burger king will hand out free samples to anyone who wants them, no strings attached. Richard . Back to you. Courtney, i just might eat more now that they dont cost me as much when it comes to the belly. Stocks rebounding a bit on wednesday in part because of this woman, janet yellen. She was officially nominated by president obama to succeed current fed head ben bernanke. Yellens nomination comes with the blessing of over 350 economists who have her back here, making her arguably the most powerful woman in the world. New zealand has hired betty white, talking about powerful women, to help them with a fourminute inflight safety video. Even getting a helping hand from the love boats captain stubing, gavin mcleod. For about the 15th time in its history, mcdonalds plans to replace happy meal toys with about 20 million paperback books during the first two weeks of november. And according to a chinese study of 57 beverages, sprite came out on top as the best remedy for a hangover. I might have to debate that. Just ahead, another team goes home in the fall classic and the rest of your sports headlines. First, heres a pop culture trivia question. What is the oldest major soft drink in america . Cocacola . Dr. Pepper . 7up . Or ibc root beer . That answer when early today returns. So before the break we asked what is the oldest soft drink in america . Cocacola, dr. Pepper, 7 up or ibc root beer . The answer is 1885, dr. Pepper. First sold that year at morrisons old corner drugstore in waco, texas. It is a favorite. Lets get the latest for you in sports. A lot of baseball kapow and shazam last night. The cardinals thunder into the National League championship. They are 81 in deciders, lots to celebrate. Game five last night was no different. St. Louis gets onto the board first with a tworun homer. Later the pirates Pedro Alvarez grounds. It pops. Error. Alvarez on first. Later a powerful tworun homer shuts the front door, and the man, adam wainwright, closes the game. He is the guy of the night. Pirates go home 61. Dodgers travel to st. Louis next. Emotions surge but nobodys budging. Redskins owner Daniel Snider in an open letter to fans saying hes heard both sides on the name debate, but its going to stay the same based on its 81year tradition. He cited a poll of 1,000 native americans that did not find the name redskins offensive. Some native americans and sports columnists consider the name a racial slur. Youre ready to party, arent you . Starting bid here, 75,000 on ebay for this Houston Texans party bus. Its a 1975 stainless steel airstream, two flatscreen tvs and two fridges and a kegerator. You in . You could bring that to tonights game. Eli manning his winless giants try their luck at the chicago bears, nfl. How does u. S. Senator mike ditka sound to you . The legendary coach says he regrets not running against barack obama in the 2004 senate race. He told the dickinson press, quote, not that i would have won, but i probably would have, and he wouldnt be in the white house, end quote. Hitting the white slopes, ted liggetty prepping for the sochi olympics. They changed the skis hourglass shape. The gold favorite won 6 of 8 world cup slalom races last year. Congrats to Wladimir Klitschko and actress hayden panettiere. They are engaged. Where did they go . They went here into the austrian forest. Its called the couch garden project. There are safer places to do that, my friends. Oprah winfrey is having what she is describing as the worlds biggest yard sale. Got that next. Welcome back. This is the time of year that we get these huge aleutian lows. This is a big storm. You can see it cranking right here. Thats going to bring the clouds and moisture up into alaska during the day today. Thats why we do have rain and fog and windy problems down along the coast, too. Anchorage, 46 and rain for you. But fairbanks, you should be protected far enough inland that you should be okay today. Juneau, 43, and there will be rain showers heading your way. Hawaii, you look okay. Not too bad there. Just a few hitandmiss showers. Lass alaalask alaska, this is the time of year they get those big storms. When theyre out there trying to fish. Greatest catch. Entertainment before tonights glee tribute to cory monteith, lea michele talked about her boyfriend and costar. Quote, i feel like for me personally, ive lost two people, cory and finn. Michelle went on to say the tribute is based on the memorial the glee cast had for monteith. Topher grace tweeted this picture making fans hope that there may be a that 70s show reunion in the future. Owen wilson has said that he will support her and his child. Interesting dinner conversation, right . Marilyn monroe spending some time evidently under the knife. Multiple xrays in the physicians notes will be for sale in an upcoming auction proving that monroe had Plastic Surgery in the 50s under an alias. Did we even do Plastic Surgery in the 50s . It sounds risky. It probably was more risky and much simpler than what theyre doing today. The alias she had there was joan newman. William shatner has released his newest music video, ponder the mystery is what its called. Its just as bizarre as you could hope from captain kirk. Take a look. America loves and hates we keep on watching his stuff. Oprah winfrey, lets talk about that. You see her tweet here, saying im having the biggest yard sale ever november 2nd in santa barbara. Proceeds will go to her academy foundation. The first fulllength trailer is out for American Hustle with an allstar cast. The movie comes out christmas day. And from the looks of it so far, it is a definite oscar contender, so were hearing. Michele bachmann was interviewed by right wing watch about her views on snls parody in the video of we did stop. We got a lot of calls in the office and people actually thought that was me in the skit. And i will tell you, as a 57yearold woman, its been a long time since ive been confused for a 20yearold. She might take that. Im richard lui, and this is early today, we hope its just your first stop of the day on nbc. From the Australian BroadcastingCorporation Man injured in fire charged with lighting it. Surveillance footage shows the moment the owner of a suburban city shop ignites his very own business. He set off a huge explosion and fire. Nine others were also injured in that. And then the uks daily mail online, an eye for art. An argentine artist snorts paint, then squirts it onto a canvas through his eye. Wow he creates his jackson pollackstyle masterpieces that are selling for thousands of dollars. Why does he have to hold his nose . I dont get it. Otherwise it will come out the nose. Whats he thinking . Better things to do on a thursday, right . Thats what im getting you for christmas. Some stories you might have missed. Breaking news overnight in libya were watching, armed militants kidnapped the libyan Prime Minister and then freed him just hours later. Government officials confirmed it happened just before dawn in the capital of tripoli. There are reports its retaliation for last weekends u. S. Led raid there. The father of the 9yearold boy who hopped on a flight from minneapolis to las vegas without a boarding pass now speaks out. Im in what you call a double jeopardy. If i whoop my son, i get locked up. If i let my son keep on doing what hes doing, i get in trouble. Somebody please help me, please. And a woman in mexico has reportedly denied help at a Medical Clinic and gives birth on the clinics lawn. Officials say theyve spended the Health Centers director. Both a state and federal investigation are under way there. One family in virginia is already getting into the halloween spirit. Take a look. Welcome to halloween family style. We go big or we go home. You can say that again. Their elaborate display includes ghosts, pumpkins and scenes of execution. The problem is may be too scary. Homeowners say they never get trickortreaters and end up eating all the candy themselves. Maybe thats the whole idea. Sentencinging today for kwame kilpatrick. Prosecutors are asking he get 28 years in prison. And on this day in 1973, resignation of a vice president. Spiro t. Agnew became a private citizen today and less than one hour it became official, he was convicted of a criminal charge of tax evasion. Happy birthday to Dale Earnhardt jr. Who is 39. Tv host and actor mario lopez turns 40. David lee roth of van halen, 59. Im feeling old. Now keep it right here for more news, weather and sports. Auto im richard lui along with bill karins. Have a great day ahead. Time. The usda setting a deadline for the foster farms link to the salmonella outbreak. New details around the body found in a stairwell at sf general. What the womans family is telling us. With the deadline fast approaching still no deal between b. A. R. T. And its labor union. The new developments overnight. Lets take you live outside for a look at your bay bridge. Always nice to see that Early Morning traffic flow. No problems at all. But its very early on this friday eve, thursday, october 10. This is today in the bay