Transcripts For WBAL Today 20091205

good morning. the jury in italy convicts an american student of murder. the harsh sentence for amanda knox and reaction this morning from her family and friends. let it snow. yes, it's december, and it's supposed to look like this, but in houston? they haven't seen this kind of snow in cades, and it dsn't stop there. a aiorne. a baby boy i safely delivered at 30,000 feet thanks to the quk wk of the crew and a door oboard. we'll talkoim live today saturday, december 5th, 2009 captions paid for by nbc-universal televisi pretty picture of the chanl gardens here a rockefeller cent. welcome, everyone, to "toy" on this saturday morning. i'm lester ho. >> i'm amy bach. we've been covering this trial for more than a year and we finally have a verdict. >> last nht a judge in italy announced 22-year-old amanda knox and her former italian boyfriend are guiy of murdering her roommate more than two yea ago. we'll have a sentence and reaction including aninterview with amanda father comingp. nd a close look bind the joblessmbers. alightmprovent bngs cautious optimismrom the president, but for many americans unployment remains especially high. we'll look at the reasons why. also, let it snow. yeah, maybe, but not in housn. not only was it the earliest snow on record for the texas city but it washe heaviest snfall in me than three decades. 'll let you know how the city coped and tell you where the sn is headed. got to go somewhere. >> and the kids, look how mh fun they were having. some have never seen snow in their lives. >> always the kids. >> d't have to shol it. >> yeah. first, more on the guilty verdict for amanda knox. nbc's keith miller isive in perugia, italy, with the latest on that. keith, good morning. >> reporter: good morning, lester. well, there s intense drama in the courtroom early ts morng as the two judges and six jurors took about ten hours to reach a rdict. when the judge announced the guilty verdict,manda knox yelled out, o, no," and tn broke wn intears, her family sat stunned in the audience, her sister collapsing in tears. we're toldhat the sentence, in fact, is 26 years in prison for amanda knox, 24 years in prison for her ex-boyfrie, raffaele sollecito. the family was stunned. the father of anda kn came out of the courtroom. he looked like he was in a state of shk. we had a chance to talko him justfter theerdi was delived. why was ecoicted, do you thk? >> i belve that the charaer assassationnd t mia buildu was so trendous that that judge and that jury did not have the cougeo ovcome at, even though tvidence that was presented in tourt ofaw so clearly came to an innocent verdict. they didn't have the gs to overcome th. >>eporter:he ct's family today ld a news nferen. the kercher famy says that they welcomed the guilty verdict but thewere not celebrating. they said this was no trium. also, lester, u.s. sator maria cawell said she was very disappoint witthe ilian judicial system and would take up this verdict with sectary state hillary clinton. lester? >> keit is there an option to appeal under the itaan justice system, an if so, wil the knox mily take that opti? >> reporter: yes, absolute. 90 days from now,he judge must file his papers on h he reached this verdict. the knox family says they will appeal this ithey have to they say they will take it all the way to thetalian supreme court. lester? >> kei miller thi morning in italy, thank you. cong up inur next hour of "today," wll get rction on the verdict from amanda's friends thi anxclusive interview. here's am lester, thank you. noto the big sto at home, jobsand t continuing struggle to find work. the whi house is being cautiously optimistic, emphasis on the caution there, after the unploymentate dped ightly last month andar wer jobs were actually lost than expected. nbc's mike viqueira is at the white house with more o this. mike, good morning. >> reporter: good morning, amy. the president wcomethe news on the jobless front, though cautning the is still work to be done on t economy. now here in washingto there is talk of using thatank bailout fund to try and create jobs. >> good to be back in allentown. >> reporter: the good news on jobs was delivered by the president's top economic adviser. >> i've got to admit my chief economist got about four hugs when she handled us the report. >> reporter: but mr. obama cautious with the unemployment rate still in double digits at 10%. it's not yet time to celebrate. >> good friends don't pay the rent. >> reporter: the president has now turned his public focus back to the economy, hosting a job summit at the white house and friday traveling to hard-hit allentown, pennsylvania, touring a struggling metal works and a job training center. >> boost it up a little bit with the recovery effort. >> reporter: and holding a town hall event where the economy was topic one. >> we're concerned, and we don't -- we're holding back because these things we're just not sure what's going to happen. >> reporter: experts say the economy may stop shedding jobs in the coming months. >> by the spring of next year, maybe by the end of the winter we'll be adding jobs to this chi economy. >> reporter: heading into an election year, democrats aren't taking chances and are preparing new legislation with new spending to extend unemployment benefits and more for road and bridge construction and so-called green technologies, much of it paid for out of unused t.a.r.p. funds. >> the more jobs we create, the more money comes into the public till and therefore reduces the deficit. >> reporter: but republicans will oppose many of the new proposals, saying the president has overspent and underperformed. >> a jobless recovery in double-digit unemployment is not what the american people were promised. >> reporter: and, amy, many people here in washington had hoped to use those unused t.a.r.p. funds to help pay down the deficit. meanwhile, the president will continue with his so-called listening tour across america with more events coming up, but he delivers a major speech and hopes to provide details on what he wants to do about the jobless rate next week in washington. >> mike viqueira, thank you. joining us to talk about the latest economic news and the president's plan to revive the economy is labor secretary so s solis. good morning. >> good morning. how are you? >> i'm doing well. the numbers shrinked to 10%, but those who have been unemployed for six months or more, those numbers are growing, 5.9 million, the most on record since 1948. that said, when will a good trend become something permanent enough where people will actually be able to pay the rent? >> well, i think the president spoke correctly that we are doing everything we can now to kind of frontload a lot of programs and efforts to jump-start the economy, and the american recovery act investment funds are actually working for us right now. we helped to save 1.6 million jobs. we kept people in state government, teachers, police officers, firefighters, but more importantly in this report that we just saw yesterday, we saw an addition of temporary jobs, 52,000 more jobs that were added. we saw growth also in education and health care, about another 40,000 jobs that were added. so slowly we see the recovery act working, but we still need to see more happen, we still have about half of the recovery money that hasn't been totally issued. in fact, i am still issuing money for green job training, grants that will come out in the coming weeks. and i can tell you there's a lot of enthusiasm in terms of small businesses, medium-sized businesses getting into renewable energy, in the solar industry. we're seeing a lot of potential for growth and green jobs. so a lot of people who lost their jobs for example in the auto industry can be retooled and retrained to get zboo into these renewable jobs whether it's creating lithium batteries, manufacturing hybrid cars. those skills are transferable, but we need to act quickly and look at how we extend programs to help support those people that are still in need of unemployment insurance. and we're working with the congress on that. >> secretary, republicans have criticized this administration for not investing enough in the private sector. president obama said it's really up to the private sector to create those jobs on its own. here's what former presidential candidate mitt romney wrote this week in "usa today." he said -- what's your reaction to that? >> oh, i think he's absolutely wrong. in fact, i was in nevada where he issued a grant for $138 million to invest in the smart grid system, and the agreement was that the state would also, through private investments, would have to match that. so you're really looking at almost $300 million that's coming together that will create more jobs in this new industry. so i think a lot of people perhaps are misinformed and not aware of many of the jump-start programs. i mean, the fact we're being able to open up auto plants, for example, in rhode island, put back 2,000 jobs to create new hybrid vehicles, that's not something just driven by the federal government. this is a public/private partnership. >> secretary solis, what about the leftover t.a.r.p. funds? how will they be used? many would like them to be used for different things but one was stimulate job creation. do you think that's possible at this point? >> it may be possible. there's a lot of discussion and interest in putting more targeted funds into the infrastructure. we still need to do a lot of repair work in our roads, in our railway system. so i think that those discussions will be ongoing, and next week the president will speak before the american public to talk more clearly about what those plans might be. >> labor secretary hilda solis, thanks for your time this morning. >> thank you. >> now here's lester. >> all right, amy, thanks. the overall unemployment rate is 10%, it is far higher for african-americans, more than 15%. nbc's ron allen looks at the reasons. >> reporter: at this job fair in new york, the statistics say it will be tougher for the unemployed african-americans to find work. >> give you my card. >> reporter: she wonders if race limits her chances. >> it's not something that you can specifically put your finger on and definitively say that's what's going on partly because it's not politically correct to do that and partly because it's very subtle. >> reporter: they struggle with the perception of reality of higher unemployment rates for blacks than whites. the reasons, analysts say, are because the economy has lost many jobs black workers traditionally hold in urban areas, in manufacturing and retail. and during this recession, the gap has also widened further up the ladder between workers with college degrees, which some argue is not just an economic problem. >> there are multiple factors, but i think even among the college educated the issue of discrimination probably played some role. >> reporter: to measure that, rrges are tested employees by sending resumes with different sounding names. >> the resumes get 50% more positive responses than the la'keshia and jamal resumes. >> reporter: labor experts say bias remains a sensitive issue with no easy answers, one that many employers and those looking for work try to avoid but try to help focus on what seems to narrow the gap. for example, many minority professionals lack networks of friends and colleagues that often provide leads about jobs and opportunities. this nonprofit tries to build those connections. >> what we focus on is providing that access and opportunities to companies, to senior individuals and senior leaders. >> reporter: after the job fair, andre mcnair, a former pharmaceutical industry manager, says things are still tough. >> i have to agree with our president. sometimes it has to get a little worse before it gets better. >> reporter: an economic story that can be told in numbers and colors across the country. for "today," ron allen, nbc news, new york. >> for more insight into the latest unemployment data and what it means for the broader economy, we're joined by cnbc's senior economics reporter steve leaseman. good to see you. >> good morning, legser. >> we like the headline, unemployment drops. what do economists look for beyond the headline? >> a couple things. the unemployment rate is the least of this the things they are looking at. the drop in payroll showed a sequential decline time after time. i have to do a double take when that number came out because i thought it was missing a digit there. it's been over 23 months we've had these losses in the six digits right there. that was one thing. temporary unemployment, you heard the labor secretary talk about that, that's usually the precursor. employers bring on workers on a temporary basis first and then they become permanent. that's been up four straight months. we had the highest temporary rise in five years. >> and people are working longer days. >> another aspect, lester. take your existing employees and give them a longer work week before you brought on new employees. the 33.2 hours can weigh down and it's gone back up. >> what about those who point out some of this is a result of government intervention and that has a shelf life? what happens after the government stimulus plan runs out? >> i think it's definitely a part of government intervention, part of these numbers that's helping the economy improve. the question has aums been when the government stepped in could we make that transition to the private sector, and that still is a ways off. private sector is just getting on its feet. >> reading some of your notes, you brought up the banking industry, that the banking industry has got to like these numbers. why? >> here's the way it works. they call it a virtuous -- in this case, lester, a vicious cycle. every unemployed person that holds a mortgage is a potential mortgage foreclosure. a potential mortgage foreclosure is a hit to a bank. a hit to a bank is a loan not give on the a small business and that loan not given is another potential unemployed person. that's how the circle works. keep people employed, they keep their mortgages, they get a loan from the bank and hire people. >> you like this news at a lot of levels. >> a lot of levels. >> here's amy. parts of the southeast are getting hit by some early season snow this morning, and while people many in much of the country are getting out the shovels and tuning up the snowblowers, that's not usually necessary in houston, texas, where a rare snowstorm is the talk of the town. nbc's michelle kosinski has more. >> reporter: no, this isn't new york or chicago, but it sure doesn't look like texas. >> it's cold. and it's fun. >> reporter: snow in the air, on the tongue, on the palm, and everyone doing their best to contain themselves. >> i've never seen the snow. >> reporter: around houston, the kids got out early and adults played hooky. >> it's awesome, it's crazy, like the city shutting down. >> reporter: newscasters got to bust out their snappiest headgear. >> there's almost no more snow on the ground. >> reporter: well, it doesn't take much. even tiny snowmen are cool in a city that doesn't own a snowplow. houston got about 2 inches ten years ago. the last time it fell like this was around 1973. >> i don't know how to drive on snow and ice. >> reporter: and they got a taste of what happens at the airport. planes also sticking on the ground. still, it was a fluffy alternative to the pouring rain, tornadoes that raged across the south the last few days. in other parts of the southeast, we haven't even had our first cold breeze let alone cold snap. it's about 85 in miami and steamy. and it might just be hot again in houston soon. average temperature right now is closer to 70 than snowfall. might as well enjoy it while you can. and they did. for "today," michelle kosinski, nbc news, miami. 85 sounds pretty good right about now. let's check in with nbc meteorologist bill karins. good morning. snow in houston. what's going on? >> if i had told you it was going to snow an inch in houston before it was going to snow an inch of snow in syracuse, new york, this morning, you would have told me i was crazy, but that's what's happened. this has been an upside down winter, and that snow is heading east. we're looking at snow in the mountains of georgia, kentucky, and into areas later today like baltimore, washington, d.c., philadelphia, even new york city and southern new england. now, on this map, the white is snow. you are looking at the entire state of west virginia covered in snow as you wake up this morning, even portions of ohio, and then the rain is going to move up the mid-atlantic. this is not going to be a blockbuster snow event, but it will be the first snow of the season for many area, including the big cities on i-95. lester, amy? >> at least it will look pretty, right? bill karins, thanks. we'll see you back shortly for the rest of the nation's weather. >> it is december. more on the morning's headlines from tamron hall. good morning. >> good morning, everyone. we begin in southern afghanistan where u.s. marines are pressing into a remote taliban stronghold. 1,000 marines and 150 afghan troops are involved in operation cobra's anger. it is the first major offensive since president obama announced 30,000 more troops to be deployed to that region. and democratic senator max baucus was romantically involved with a former staffer when he recommended her to become the next u.s. attorney for montana. the chairman of the senate finance committee recommended melody haines and two others to the white house as potential nominees. the two began their relationship in the summer of 2008 after baucus separated from his wife. hanes later withdrew her name from consideration. and in indiana, 17-year-old andrew conley pled not guilty friday to strangling his 10-year-old brother, connor. according to authorities the teen struggled his younger brother because it made him feel like the fictional television serial killer on a showtime series called "dexter." the wake for connor was held on friday. the producers of "dexter" have no comment. for the fifth week in a row, the government says the h1n1 outbreak is slowing down. 25 states are now reporting widespread infections off its peak of 48. now, this news comes as a vaccine is now more available with about 73 million doses. and finally, the first nba team to start their season 0-18, they got a win. the new jersey nets beat the charlotte bobcats last night 97-91. and now the team is looking to go for a losing streak -- to change the losing streak -- go from a losing streak to a winning streak. i saw some interviews of those players, and i think they were in just disbelief. an early christmas gift to all you nets' fans, all two of you out there. >> oh! >> i live in brooklyn. they're coming to brooklyn to play. i can't wait. we hope. some of us. let's talk a little bit about this snow. it's an incredible historic event in places like texas, snowed in birmingham, alabama. today mostly a rain event in areas of the mid-atlantic but it will turn to snow >> good morning, temperatures falling in the baltimore metropolitan area. snow is beginning to mix in. however temperatures today, that's your saturday weather. lester? >> bill, thanks. there is sadness in washington this morning over the news tyshaun, the hugely popular 4-year-old panda cub at the national zoo, is about to be moved permanently to china. andrea mitchell explains why. >> reporter: he appears unfazed, oblivious to the uproar over his custody. >> we understand this is traumatic for a lot of people, not the least of which our own staff but for the public. >> i'm sorry. we're going to miss him. he's on my web cam every day. >> reporter: the zoo says 2 million people a day have watched tie jian's webcast. he was nicknamed butter stick for his tiny size to his current 200 pounds. in fact, america's love affair with pandas started in 1972, when president nixon opened the door to china and beijing sent washington its first panda couple. the country tracked every feal heartbeat as they tried to produce a cub. >> in another long-running washington drama -- >> the pup born to ling-ling has died. >> reporter: even though he was born here, appears on a u.s. stamp, it turns out he is officially chinese. even china's spokesman seemed to be embarrassed to take him away. >> i'm afraid i have to explain to some of my colleagues in the chinese embassy, and particularly to my family and my son. >> reporter: the news even reached the secretary of state at nato. >> i can't talk about it. i'm too upset right now. >> reporter: so could china's panda grab cause a rift in diplomatic relations? and if they want their panda back, what's next? could beijing even try to call in our national debt? >> sad. >> reporter: why is that? >> because i like the pandas. >> i think it would be nice for him to go to china so that he can go back to his home. >> reporter: now his keepers can only hope his parents can produce another cub before they, too, have to return to china next year. for "today," andrea mitchell, nbc news, washington. >> fascinating characters. >> it's amazing the draw those pandas bring to the national zoo. let's hope there's more on the way. >> great shot. we'll take a break and be back with more in a moment. coming up today, the latest on a 22-year-old american who vanished on a street in germany. in a few minutes, we'll talk with his daughter, who is in frankfurt this morning with an update on the case. and more on the amanda knox verdict. some of her friends are with us this morning on their first reaction. >> good morning. here is a look at some of foretops stories this morning. city police are investigating a shooting involving one of their off-duty officers. it occurred last night. an off-duty officer saw a suspect pointing a gun at a clerk. the officer shot the suspect who was taken to the hospital in critical condition. the second suspect fled the scene but was arrested a short time later. a officer was injured after she was trying to make a drug arrest. she is being treated for a sprained arm. the suspect was taken into custody. all you have to do is say the word snow and many people rushed to the bush restore and home depot. >> 1-3 inches. we are here preparing. >> i have seen a lot of people come in for the rock salt and calcium chloride. some already have their shovels. >> we will have all of the information. john >> the temperature here is 40 degrees. that is the high for the day. there is rain in the area. snow starting to fall west of philadelphia mixing in. to the north of frederick up to the northwest corner of frederick county, higher elevation there. out to the west near hagerstown. temperatures will not rise much. we may get a high of 42 or 43 degrees. from there on temperatures will fall through the 30's. the rain will change over to the snow. it looks like we will see snow accumulate in the area. advisories are out for snow in cecil county parts of western maryland. here is our forecast for today. ranid changing into snow. one-3 inches. rain changing into snow, 1-3 inches. we are kind of breezy this afternoon. winds from the northwest. >> dates for joining us. in a live update in 25 minutes. -- another live ♪ you better watch out you better not cry you better not pout ♪ we are back on this saturday morning, december 5th, 2009 weather a look at the holiday crowd this morning just a few days after the lighting of the rockefeller center tree. inside studio 1a, i'm amy robach along with lester holt. and still ahead, late last night, american college student amanda knox was found guilty of murdering her british roommate, meredith kercher. >> knox was sentenced to 26 years in prison after a yearlong trial that gripped italy and drew intense media attention. this morning we'll talk exclusively to amanda's friends and get their reaction to sentence. then we'll talk about boomerang kids. they're all grown up, but a growing number of them are moving back home with mom and dad. we're going to look at the reasons and discuss all of the issues involved. plus, we want to tell you about the newest frequent flyer on southwest airlines. a woman went into labor 30,000 feet above colorado, and passengers had to make room for one more. this morning we'll talk to the doctor who delivered the baby boy and find out how he and the mom are doing. first, new developments in the search for that missing american in germany, 22-year-old hol ayhan was traveling with a friend in frankfurt after attending a concert. devin's friends stopped on the street to ask for directions, and when the friend turned around, devin was gone. he's been missing for two weeks now and his father, jeff, joins us from frankfurt where he's been leading the search for his son. jeff, good morning, and thanks for being with us. >> thank you. good morning. >> i thuns your wife and your daughter have joined you to help in the search. how are you all coping? >> not well. it's very difficult. they arrived at 6:45 this morning, and that's when i went to bed after 5:00 after spending 9 1/2 hours on the streets of frankfurt with 55 friends, new friends from around europe, going through many neighborhoods, posting flyers and looking for him last night, so a little bit sleep deprived. >> i can only understand what that must be like, jeff. i know you were describing this major effort last night you made, searching in the area where devin was last seen. do you have any new leads? >> we have several, none that i would consider concrete. my sister beth and i were at a major central frankfurt train station on thursday posting flyers when somebody came up we thought was relatively credible and pointed us to an area near the train station where he claims to have seen devin probably three to four days prior, and that afternoon we went to that area, we canvassed it for several hours and actually ran into two people that we thought were perhaps a bit more reliable who described seeing him in the area, said he was wearing roughly the same clothes that he was described to be wearing and had a much heavier beard than was shown in the picture. and the if he wasn't traveling with a razor, we didn't suggest that they volunteer that he looked very much like that guy but had a heavier beard. so we think that those were a bit more reliable. and those relate to sightings that go from probably four to seven days in the past. >> and, jeff, so you've spoke on the people who say they've seen devin, he just looks a little different but it would seem credible because he has a heavier beard. his backpack has been recovered. do you have any idea of how he went missing or what may have happened that night, any clue, having talked to him earlier in the week, what his disposition was like, anything that would give you a sense of where he might be or why he might be missing? >> i tell you, we've played every possible scenario in our minds. my best guess at this point, and it's nothing but a guess -- there's certainly no evidence to support this -- i firmly believe he was the victim of a crime. he may have been a little bit disoriented and wandered away and wandered into an area that's maybe a little bit less safe than the populated area where he was last seen. that's exactly where his backpack was found, pretty much in the area where he was last seen. there really wasn't a whole lot in the backpack. he was really planning just a one-day trip, just an overnight, so he didn't have a change of clothes. i don't think he even had a toothbrush or a razor, so it was really just going to be a quick trip. so unfortunately not a whole lot of clues in the backpack. >> well, jeff hollahan, we certainly wish you the best in the search for your son. thank you so much for joining us today, and if you have any information that could help find devin hol alan, please go to our viewer resources page at todaysho >> temperatures around 40 degrees. in the northwest, some mixed precipitation. the temperatures fall an we always tell you to try to fit in with the crowd here. i probably should have chosen this hat. if you want to get your local forecast, you can always get that hour by hour at weather.com. amy, lester? >> i can't tell if you're a skinny rabbit or if that's a -- that's a reindeer thing. >> they think i look like a rabbit. >> you don't. >> actually, it looks like a carrot top. still to come, they're known as the boomerang kids, all grown up and moving back in with their parents. >> and later, he's being called the next picasso and he's only 7. we'll meet him live. i couldn't wait. savings on select diamond earrings. one more reason kay is the number one jewelry store in america. we break it, then we fix it. so you can start your day sunny side up. that's what we're made of. ♪ ♪ and i was so tender to the touch-- but i didn't know why. my doctor diagnosed it as fibromyalgia. and then he recommended lyrica... fibromyalgia is thought to be the result of over-active nerves that cause chronic, widespread pain. lyrica is fda-approved to help relieve the unique pain of fibromyalgia. so now, i'm learning what a day is like with less pain. lyrica is not for everyone. tell your doctor about any serious allergic reaction that causes swelling or affects breathing or skin, or changes in eyesight including blurry vision or muscle pain with fever or tired feeling. lyrica may cause suicidal thoughts or actions in a very small number of people. some of the most common side effects of lyrica are dizziness, sleepiness, weight gain and swelling of hands, legs, and feet. do not drink alcohol while taking lyrica. you should not drive or operate machinery until you know how lyrica affects you. could your pain be caused by fibromyalgia? ask your doctor about lyrica today. we've heard plenty about the boomer generation, but now there's the boomerang generation. after living on their own, many are moving back home, in many cases because of economic realities. 49-year-old amanda never thought she'd be living with her mother again. >> i don't trust you with a big knife. >> it's only been a month so far so we're still in the honeymoon stage. >> reporter: but her decision to move the was not just to help herself. >> how would you like these? >> sliced, please. >> reporter: it was also to help her mother, who lost her job six months ago. >> i had gone through all my savings, and i was okay until october and i was hoping i'd get a job and i wouldn't have to ask for help. but unfortunately, the market wouldn't open up, and so i asked her if she could help for a while. >> it felt nice to be able to connect with my mom because she was really helpful when i lost my job. >> reporter: now the two women share this tiny apartment that's less than 500 square feet. >> there's no space unless i go into the closet. it's a little walk-in. or the bathroom. so that's not really a lot of privacy. >> if i want to try and develop a relationship that won't get marred by us living together. shallots. i forgot the shallots. >> reporter: but just how long this living arrangement will last depends on the economy. >> when my mom gets a job, then we'll know better. we're just kind of not speaking about when do i get to go. one day at a time. >> i just would like to have the opportunity to be on my own. then i can help amanda save for her own apartment. >> thank you. >> reporter: joining us with the social and financial issues of bammer rang kids is a psychologist and our cnbc personal finance correspondent. ladies, good morning. >> good morning. >> gayle, that was a bit of a twist on the boomerang kids notion. in that case, mom and daughter needed each other. in many cultures, very common for adult kids to stay with their parents until they're married. in this culture, not so common. good idea, bad idea? >> generally speaking, bad idea, but this is happening because something bad has already happened. this is happening because someone has lost their job or doesn't have the money to make it on their own. this is making the best of a difficult situation. >> what are the economic realities here? we heard the unemployment report. unemployment is down. but what's happening for young people in particular? >> well, it's 10% for the total labor force but for 20 to 24-year-olds it's 16%, the highest on record, and it's also that they're the smallest share of working people when they were employed. that is dwindling. so it's very difficult for young people to find jobs and that's why many of them are having to move home. pew research study showed for parents with adult children 1 in 7 have seen their kids move back home just in the past year. >> all right. so it's a reality, it's going to happen for a lot of families. what are the ground rules that should be set? >> well, they definitely need to lay out some ground rules starting with make sure there's a plan to get a job. also, developing a budget for both the parent and the child. and then outlining what the obligations are going to be in terms of who's going to pay what expenses, who's going to do what chore ps. >> what about rent? do you charge your kids rent? >> i think it's a good idea, it shows responsibility and helps parents show their kids responsibility and living cheaper initially. you may perhaps start out three months free and then charge rent, but you need to charge something. >> gayle, you've signed onto this notion of working out details ahead. contract? should you go that far? >> i think it's a good idea because it formalizes the communication. to make this work, communication is key so, being clear not only about the financial issues but what are your social engagements going to be, how late can you stay out, who can you bring home, things like that, because otherwise it might be offensive in the beginning or seem offensive but later on there's going to be much offensive ending of each other if you haven't hammered out these details. and what you really want out of all this is that the relationship grows and that you foster independence and adulthood in your child. >> but couldn't that lead to some strife over the issue of the kids and how they spend their money? it's like, wait a minute, you came here because you were out of money and now you were out partying last night or bought a new car or whatever it might be. >> absolutely. that's why you have to make this contract up front because there have to be agreements on what you're going to contribute to the high school. if the kids are contributing to it, then they're on their own and you don't have to get involved in that. but if you haven't made that agreement -- and you have to set up a time line, like we're going to take till this time, you will say. that might be amendsable if things aren't working out, but you're going to be saving so that at this date you can move out on your own. >> and you have to lead by example, too. i mean, a lot of parents have been living above their means and enabling their children to have a certain lifestyle without them having to earn it. times have changed. you need to live within your lifestyle, within your mean, and you need to teach your child to do the same thing because you don't want to be having to support them for many years when they can't support you. >> it's helping your child grow into an independent, competent adult. if you don't do these things, you really cripple them. they've kind of got a broken wing because they don't know how to make it on their own. >> we have to end it there. good to have you both here. thanks so much. up next, no ticket, no i.d., no luggage. how did an extra passenger appear on a southwest airlines flight? you probably have a pretty good idea. sometimes, the little things in life feel like our biggest enemies. they can be damaged... they can be stolen. happily, there's the american express charge card. if something you recently bought with the card breaks, it can be repaired, replaced or your account can be credited. you'll even get membership rewards points with each purchase. and peace of mind when you travel. can your card say that? we've heard of babies being born in taxicabs and subways, elevators and many other places, but giving birth on a plane? that's rare. so when it happened on a southwest airlines flight from chicago to salt lake city, it was big news. nbc eisley cowan has the story. >> reporter: for southwest airlines, it sounded like a security breach. a passenger that wasn't screened, had no i.d., and no ticket, but made a midair appearance anyway. >> we just heard clapping in the back, and so that's when i really thought, is somebody having a baby? that's the first time. because they never let us know. >> reporter: a baby it was, a boy, delivered in the aisle of a 737 30,000 feet above denver. >> we don't deliver buy byes every day, but we did today. it was very exciting. >> reporter: an internist from chicago was sitting in the row right behind the woman who was eight months pregnant. when the crew asked for help, he jumped to it, and within minutes, the plane's manifest was up by one. >> when i first saw the head coming out, i said, great, at least it's not the back end. >> reporter: most airlines don't restrict women from flying while pregnant, but most doctors say there is a cutoff. >> conservative recommendations would be women not travel within a month of their due date, which is at 36 weeks. >> reporter: after his first flight and his first emergency landing all in one day, a new little frequent flyer is resting in a denver hospital this morning. all are doing well. for "today," lee cowan, nbc news, los angeles. and joining us now is the doctor who helped deliver that baby on southwest flight 441. dr. john seran is a preventive care specialist in naperville, illinois. he performed his last delivery, we should mention, 30 years ago in medical school. doctor, good morning. >> well, good morning, amy. that was about 35 years ago, my last delivery. >> 35 years ago. i can only imagine what it was like when you heard the call to duty, is there a doctor on board, and you see the woman right in front of you clearly in labor. tell me what that experience was like. >> well, i knew something had to be done. fortunately, we had two or three wonderful nurses come to bear, as well as a great flight attendant staff. we escorted the lady to the back of the plane where we could lie her down in some privacy and get things going. of course we didn't know. we thought we might have a few hours of labor, but that was not going to happen as the baby had started to appear. >> wow. so this was a quick delivery but also a normal one. but even in a normal delivery situation in a hospital, you have certain things you need to complete the delivery. so you all had to get a little creative on the airplane. tell me how that delivery actually happened and some of the things you had to use. >> well, we did. after about 10 or 15 minutes, two or three pushes, the baby was coming, so we had to quickly improvise. i used a couple of shoestrings and one of the nurses had a draw string. one on the cord and her draw string on the mother's end and someone came up with a pair of baby -- children's scissors and we had a baby boy and wrapped him in one of the blankets provided by one of the passengers. >> what was the reaction by the passengers? i know that we just saw some of them say they didn't really know what was happening, but i imagine those who were close enough probably had an indication that someone was going into labor. what was the reaction on the plane? >> well, amy, the passengers were all supportive. when the pilot announced you have a new bay boy aboard, there was cheer and cheeping. people were missing connections, but they were all supportive. it was a happy time. fortunately, a normal baby and the mother did well. >> that's fantastic. i have to ask, have you ever been called to duty on a plane before? >> well, we've been called at several times. as a doctor, you never know when you're going to be called, but we've been called on planes, cruise ships, hotels. whenever you're traveling, you never know. >> well, i'm sure that woman and her baby boy are very happy you were sitting just one row behind them. dr. saran thanks for sharing your story. >> you're welcome, amy. thank you. coming up on "today," he's only 7 and he's on his way to becoming a world-class painter. still to come on "today," it's the guilty verdict that was heard around the world. >> coming up, we will talk exclusively with amanda knox's two friends and get their reaction to the verdict. this year, my kids got the toys they wanted most of all. ♪ walmart checks other stores' prices so... i don't have to chase sales. i get the hottest hasbro toys of the season at unbeatable prices. looks like we all got what we wanted. christmas costs less at walmart. save money. live better. walmart. really soft, really smooth lips. my blistex new lip massage. the soft tip smoothes away rough spots, as emollients moisturize and protect. my lips feel amazing. yeah. would you like a pony ? 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( cluck, cluck, cluck ) oh, wowww ! that's fun ! you didn't say could have a real one. well, you didn't ask. even kids know when it's wrong to hold out on somebody. why don't banks ? we're ally, a new bank that alerts you when your money could be worki harder d earning more. it's just the right thing to do. >> good morning. >> good morning. here is a look at some of our top stories this morning. city police are investigating a shooting involving one of their off-duty officers. two suspects tried to rob a liquor store. an off-duty officer saw a suspect pointing a gun at a clerk in al iquor store. the officer shot the suspect who was taken to the hospital inthe second suspect fled the scene but was arrested a short time later. a officer was injured after she was trying to make a drug arrest. >> a man was stabbed at the mall. no word on the condition of the victim or the cause of the attack. all you have to do is say the word snow and many people rush depot. >> 1-3 inches. we are here preparing. >> i have seen a lot of people come in for the rock salt and calcium chloride. some already have their shovels. >> we will have all of thejohn collins comes back with our forecast. >> let's take a look at our hd doppler radar. we are seeing signs of snow mix in in the rain. that is in northern baltimore county. temperatures are dropping. a couple of snow flakes have tried to come down. at 2,000 feet, it is snowing. during the day today, it will get colder at the surface. we will see snow in the area. moisture all the way down to florida right now. temperatures will hold steady and then fall off considerably. then you can see the snow changeover. the advisories are in effect for snow accumulations in cecil county and westward into western maryland. warnings in effect for the mountains of west virginia and virginia. rain, changing to snow, some areas are beginning to see that already. one-3 inches around the metro area. high temperatures this morning up to 45 degrees. wednesday from the northwest. light snow is in our forecast. >> thanks for joining us. we will see you back here in 25 minutes. . good morning. guilty of murder. a young american, amanda knox, is convicted in italy and sentenced to 26 years in prison. in a "today" exclusive, two of her college friends join us here this morning to discuss the case. wild weather after witnessing an early season snowstorm, washings and advis y advisories from the southeast up into new england. and the artist the some call the 7-year-old picasso, his work already fetching thousands of dollars. from england, kieron williamson paints for us, today, saturday, december 5th, 2009. well welcome back to the second hour of "today." i'm lester holt. >> i'm amy robach. for amanda knox, it was a junior year abroad gone terribly wrong. >> the american college student got caught up in a complicated case of love, sex, and murder. and late last night, after a yearlong trial, knox and her former boyfriend were found guilty of murdering her housemate. this morning we december cuss the case from a legal standpoint and we'll hear from amman a d.a.'s father and sister. and we've been following some nasty went weather with a snowstorm that hit texas makes its way around the south and heads up into into the northeast. we're going to be checking in with our meteorologist to bring you the very latest. >> one of those kids that used to like to sketch and draw when you were a child? check out this young man. lots of kids show early talent for drawing, but kieron williamson is different. this, after all, is the work of a 7-year-old. we're going to meet him in a few minutes, and he's already making some money. >> i was painting stick figures at 7. that's phenomenal. >> phenomenal. he's going to do a paining for us while we're on the air. >> fantastic. first, the latest on the murder conviction of amanda knox by a jury in it talaeai last night. nbc's keith miller is live in perugia with the latest. keith, good morning. >> reporter: good morning, lester. well, it took a jury just more than ten hours to pass guilty verdicts against amanda knox and her former boyfriend for the murder and sexual assault of knock's roommate. the judge handed down the sentence to knox of 26 years in prison. she cried, "no, no," when the verdict was announced. family members broke down in tears. the yearlong trial focused on the prosecution's theory that knox and her former boyfriend killed meredith kercher, an exchange student from england, in a drug-fueled sex game gone wrong. knox maintains she is innocent. her lawyers said they would appeal. the drama inside the courtroom spilled onto the streets. knox's father appeared to be in shock. that quickly turned to anger. you stiffened up and sort of went rigid. >> yeah. the anger set in. it was -- it's one where a system that has instilled reasonable doubt and one that in my mind at least summarized during closing arguments was so crystal clear that she should have been found innocent, much less not even dealing with the realm of reasonable doubt. and for them to come up with guilty is -- it just blows me away. it just angers me beyond all belief. >> reporter: you had a different reaction than your father. you seemed as if you really lost it. >> i did. i really, really wasn't expecting it, even though we talked about how we have to be realistic and knowing that this could possibly happen, i wasn't ready for it. i looked at the jurors the day they went to deliberations. i nodded at them and they nodded and smiled at me. and i really wasn't prepared for it. i lost it. i was uncontrollably shaking. >> reporter: you're going to see amanda tuesday. are you going to be able to hold it together? >> i can't break down in front of her, because as soon as we break down, she does, and i want her to know that we're strong for her. >> you've been at this now for more than two years since your daughter was arrested. have you got the strength to carry on for another year or more? >> i do now. i'm mad. >> we have to. we're not giving up. >> no way. she did not do anything. she was not part of this. >> reporter: you're convinced. >> beyond a reasonable doubt. >> reporter: u.s. senator maria cantwell issued this statement shortly after the sentence was announced. "i am saddened by the verdict, and i have serious questions about the italian justice system and whether anti-americanism tainted this trial." u.s. senator cantwell says she will take up this issue with u.s. secretary of state hillary rodham carter. lester? keith miller, thank you. amanda knox's friends, an miguel tejada nicholls and andrew seliber join us this morning and dan abrams. thanks for being here. >> good morning. >> have you heard from amanda recently? >> just a letter in the last few weeks sh and she was kind of preparing for the reality of what was coming up between the duality of thinking she may be coming home or she may be staying there for quite some time, so -- >> your reaction to hear this verdict, were you expecting the worst, andrew? >> no. i was hoping for the best, obviously. i thought i had been prepared for it but never thought it would actually happen, so it's kind of devastating to see the guilty verdict come up, especially when you look at the lack of physical evidence. >> and jessica, i know you both watched this trial and said that the person the prosecution has been painting is not the person you knew from school. >> absolutely not. i actually met amanda in prison. i didn't know her at school. andrew did. but the person that she is is not even remotely comparable to the person that they've made her out to be. >> and what was your reaction when you heard the news last night? >> i was -- still am a little speechless. it's devastating. it's frustrating. it's infuriating. it's awful. >> dan, let me bring you to the conversation. a lot of folks who followed this trial say there's not one piece of evidence that necessarily places amanda knox in the room at the scene of the murder. a lot of folks think that the evidence was circumstantial at best. was it a close call in your mind? >> i think it was a close case, leg legally, and here's why. you have conflicting statements. you have dna evidence. now, the defense says the dna evidence isn't reliable, and certain dna evidence they would say isn't particularly relevant and they have explanations and they challenged, for example, whether they actually found the right murder weapon, et cetera. but with all of that said, this was still a serious case, brought in a serious court with serious scientific evidence was produced. and this was not some case brought in an afghan tribal court. i mean, this is a real courtroom with real evidence. again, that's not to say there wasn't reasonable doubt here, but -- >> right. a lot of folks certainly want to look at this through the eyes of the american justice system even though intellectually we understand it's a different system there. but for a moment, help us here. if this same evidence was brought in an american court, do you think the outcome would have been the same, or would it have even gone to trial? >> i think it would have gone to trial. it absolutely would have gone to trial. do i think a jury would have found reasonable doubt? possibly. possibly. i think that there's a very good argument that there was reasonable doubt presented by the defense here. but it's not a slam dunk, meaning i think that there are some people who are -- who are saying that this was an easy case in a way for acquittal. it wasn't based on what i've seen. i've read the transcripts, et cetera. there was a lot of evidence presented in this case, both her own statements and physical evidence, as well. >> andrew, a lot has been said about her being portrayed as -- i've read the term "she devil" in the case. you know amanda. were there points -- i mean, how closely did you follow this case and were there points you just looked at and said i don't know who that person is they're talking about? >> i followed the case since the day she was arrested. i met her my first year in college and we quickly became best friends. what shows in the media and the reports, descriptions of her character are completely off the mark. >> what about the drugs? >> i would say she's very athletic and cares a lot about her health and, you know, would never try drugs more than any other college student might experiment a little bit, say, with marijuana, but nothing major. she wasn't into hard drugs. she wasn't a big partier. so to hear these things about how she became this crazed sex addict who did drugs all the time and was almost a near alcoholic over there is -- >> i think it's fair to say the media treated her unfairly. the media in europe and much of europe -- >> you think so. >> no question they treated her unfairly. and i think the family and those who support her have every right to be upset. >> we're out of time, but kwkly, the appeals process in italy better than the u.s.? >> she can actually get a new trial by the appellate court. this isn't over. you heard the family say they're going to fight this. i said it's certainly not a slam dunk, but it's not a slam dunk she won't win something on appeal. >> jessica nicholls, dan abrams, andrew seliber, thank for joining us. here's amy. we're watching the weather closely this morning in the south and the eastern part of >> the radar showing some indications of snow mixing in with the rain north of the city up in northern baltimore county and some snow-rain mix. it all changes to snow as temperatures fall this that's your chilly saturday forecast. amy? >> bill, thank you. still to come, we'll meet the young man behind some very impressive and might we say valuable paintings. if kieron williamson makes it seem like child's play, it is. what you do with it is up to you. what will you get back with your cash back? now more than ever, it pays to discover. the more options you have, the more likely you are to stay on track. ♪ that's why there are eight delicious kinds... of special k® cereal. ♪ because every girl could use a little variety. ♪ special k® -- now in eight delicious flavors. by changing her medicare prescription plan. all we had to do was go to cvs.com and use the free savings calculator. we learned that changing your medicare part d plan could save an average of $612. woman: we just entered my prescriptions, and it compared plans for us. it was easy to find the right plan for the prescriptions i need. your cvs pharmacist can help, too. come in today, or go to cvs.com before december 31st to find the best plan for you -- at cvs/pharmacy. ♪ [ male announcer ] we're cutting the cost of yuletide. ♪ taking the bah-humbug out of your budget. and amping up the merry in your christmas. ♪ we're lowering prices on everything you need to make your home -- and the season -- more festive. ♪ oh, yeah [ male announcer ] adding more jingle to your pockets, and more happy... to your holidays. more saving. more doing. that's the power of the home depot. like many 7-year-olds, kieron williamson of england likes the draw and paint, but that is pretty much where comparisons end. kieron is being called now a young picasso. 16 of his landscapes featured at an art gallery were picked up almost instantly by collectors for a staggering $28,000. kieron and his parents, keith and michelle, and sister billy jo join us this morning from the picture craft gallery. good morning to all of you. >> good morning. >> good morning. >> i want to start with you, keith and michelle, because i should mention we said this is grabbed up pretty quickly, his paints, 14 minutes his paintings were sold for $28,000. i have to get your reaction as parents to that number. >> pretty emotional, really, just to see the people taking the tags off and the scramble for them. i mean, the phones are ringing nonstop, and it was just mayhem, really emotional. >> kieron, i have to ask you, i know that just last year you were coloring with crayons like most 6-year-olds. you're 7-year-olds and now you're an acclaimed painter. what made you first want to start painting, kieron? >> when we went on holiday. >> and how long does it take you, kieron, to paint one of those paintings we see behind you? >> two hours up to a day. >> two hours up to a day. and do you have a favorite painting that you've paint sod far, kieron? >> no. >> you probably like them all the same. that makes a lot of sense. michelle, it's being said that the last child artist as good as kieron was picasso. that's quite the compliment. how does that make you feel as a mother? >> incredibly proud, very, very proud. yeah. we're -- you know, the whole experience is quite overwhelming. >> and, keith, we should mention you're an art dealer yourself, and we mentioned the number your child, kieron, was able to get, $28,000. how do you think your son's masterpieces stack up? >> i think -- ti mean, the improvement he's made from 6 to 7 is just amazing. and, yeah, just can't believe the prices that are fetching and people are willing to pay. >> kieron, when your parents told you how much your paintings sold for, $28,000, i wanted to get your reaction and how you plan to spend the money. >> i was overwhelmed, and the money will go to -- i'm going to spend, and some of the money is going to go into savings bonds and i think $750 going to be spent on a pastel box with 700 pastels. >> very good investments for you, indeed. kieron, keith, michelle, and billy jo, thank you all for joining us, and congratulations. >> thank you. >> thank you. >> we're going to mention that we're going to have you, i understand, kieron, start a painting, and we're going to check back in with you a little later in the broadcast to see what you come up with. so we're looking forward to that. so, start painting away. still ahead on "today," wear it right. we'll tell you what you need to know about winter coats. okay, now here's our holiday gift list. aww, not the mall. well, i'll do the shopping... if you do the shipping. shipping's a hassle. i'll go to the mall. hey. hi. you know, holiday shipping's easy with priority mail flat rate boxes from the postal service. if it fits, it ships anywhere in the country for a low flat rate. yea, i know. oh, you're good. good luck! priority mail flat rate shipping starts at $4.95 only from the postal service. a simpler way to ship. oh, your mom brought that over. no way! these are the ornaments from when i was a kid. this is from mommy's first ballet recital. oh, and this is when i got a two-wheeler. pretty awesome. i used to have one of these. there's a new one. 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( doorbell rings ) honey, it's the pizza guy. sure. me again. okay, now this is the last time alright? thanks, you know we don't deliver anything like this. this crispy flatbread. mmmm. mmmmm! so delicious! are you like havin' a party or somethin'? ( slam ) hello? introducing the taste that's never been delivered. digiorno crispy flatbread pizza. for deliciously italian-inspired toppings on crispy flatbread crust, it's not delivery, it's digiorno. hello, i don't think we have met. >> good morning. temperatures around 40 degrees. and will probably start dropping all this morning and afternoon. around baltimore and the metro area we have rain but snow is trying to mix in parts of our northwest and west of frederick are also seeing snow mixing in. temperatures there a little higher elevation have dropped to a more critical temperature at this point. we do expect temperatures to peak out in the morning around 40 and then start to drop off into the 30s by mid and late afternoon. much close tore freezing. and that will ensure a changeover of the rain that we're getting now into snow. advisories are out. points west into western maryland, and virginia and west virginia. our forecast, rain changing to snow, mixing with and changing into snow. kind of a wet snow in grassy areas. isolated areas could see more than that up in the north to northwest where the snow might start sooner. here's a forecast for the next seven days. the rain-snow changing to snow today. with relatively light accumulation. falling afternoon temperatures. tomorrow sun ought to melt that snow. and then we have a rain chance on monday. >> thanks for joig us. -- joining us. we are back on this saturday morning, december 5th, 2009. the holiday crowds are out in full force. you can't hear me right now. >> a lot of folks out here. >> amazing. i'm amy robach with lester holt. hello, everybody. and still to come this half hour, today get your winter wardrobe ready. lester, you were pondering this question earlier. >> i was pondering. we are clearly into winter weather. we'll talk about everything from the bag you're carrying, the shoes you're wearing, even the coat and the trends to keep you warm this winter. also. jenna lawson has crossed the pond this morning. she is with us for a decadent take on chili. she has a certain some might say sinful ingredient. >> it will be interesting. and we'll check in with our young artist and resident, we had the pleasure of interviewing young kieron williamson from england. he's working on this water color now. look how far he's gotten just since we've been on the air with him. >> wow. look at that. before we get to that, we have a special guest. >> the actress who play s alice in a modern adaptation of "alice in wonderland," starting this sunday night on sci-fi. good morning to you. >> good morning. >> congratulations. >> thank you. >> this is not going to be mistaken for the classic, "alice in wonderland." >> no, no. first thing is i'm a brunette, so that first visual indication. >> a modern woman with relationship issues. >> yes. >> a professional career. so where does this thing go? >> well, this one is kind of an action adventure story, so it's based on the original lewis carroll stories but they're kind of a leaping-off point for this very romantic, very fast-paced adventure. >> you're grounded by an all-star cast. >> yeah. >> what's it like working with legends like kathy bates and tim kurri? >> it was incredible, kind of one of those pinch-me moments where you walk onto set and you have your name next to theirs and you say, how did this happen? this is fantastic. >> kathy bates plays a very intimidating kind of a role. >> yeah. >> was it great to work with her? >> it wasn't so bad. she's a wonderfully generous and kind woman so that helps, but when she's in costume and makeup delivering rer monologues it's very easy to be intimidated as alice. >> thanks so much. >> thank you. >> you can watch "alice" starting this sunday night at 9:00 eastern on sci-fi. thanks again and congratulations. >> thank you. >> a check of the weather from bill karins. >> good morning. what an >> temperatures right around 40 at the point most areas getting rain roont the metro area off to our northwest a little snow mixing in. later on today as the temperatures fall into the 30s we'll see more snow and less rain. and some of the snow will be in what is better than midlothian, virginia, high school history class. thank you. you like football? >> yeah! >> that's a good start. let's talk "sunday night football." we've got a good game. anytime you bring brett favre into the mix, you know you're going to have excitement either way. minnesota vikings and the st. louis cardinals. you don't have to worry about the weather in phoenix. temperatures 57 to 60, partly cloudy and mild. hi to virginia for me. amy and lester are inside. on today's "wear it right," from winter outer wear to bags and shoes, often the rule of fashion is no pain, no gain. >> this morning we'll get expert health with everything from how to wear your winter gear to finding the most comfortable purse and shoes. and first up, bags. elizabeth blake, senior style editor of "all you" magazine is here to show us what's in our bags that's weighing us down. elizabeth, good morning. >> good morning. >> so, this pretty much looks like my bag, i'll be honest. >> yes. >> how do we know when we have too much stuff? when do you say enough is enough? >> well, we probably do have too much stuff always. doctors recommend the bags weigh no more than two pounds. >> really. >> yeah. the average woman's bag weighs 7 up to 15. >> we have a bag. umbrella, magazines, makeup bag, gym clothes. >> this is like me. >> that weighs in at about 12 pounds. >> it's ten pounds overweight. >> right. carrying that on one shoulder all day long is going to create some discomfort. of course you need to have certain things with you. what we recommend to reduce the load is to scale down. >> okay. >> so you don't need the full-size hairspray or contact solution. get the travel sizes. they'll allow you to have what you need but you'll be saving yourself a lot of weight. >> that's a great idea. when it comes to carrying a bag, does the shape matter in terms of how much stuff we put it in and how much it weighs? >> absolutely. you want to consider the weight and the bag, because especially how bags are oversized, heavy hardware, straps, and then you factor in everything that you're going to be putting into the bag. it can add up really quickly. unless you're obsessed with this bag and you have to have it, look for something more light weight. >> maybe just take a few things out. wow, it feels so much lighter. >> right. >> when it comes to the strap, how does that impact how we're wearing our bags? >> the style of strap most comfortable you have to toelt kind of a heavy load is going to be a wider strap like this with good padding. >> okay. >> it will help distribute the weight, whereas a narrow strap will pinch the nerve and create discomfort throughout your entire body. >> how do you wear a purse? >> the best way to wear a long strap, let me demonstrate, messenger style, more like this. the reason this is good is that you're not putting all the weight hanging from one shoulder. you have it distributed evenly across your body and even weight distribution will be the best way. >> saving grours purse snatchers, too, so it's a safer way to carry that. >> you are. >> elizabeth blake, thanks so much. here's lester. amy, thanks. to winter trends, from coats to sweaters, the hot items might not be right for everyone. here with the dos and don'ts is people's style watch. good morning. good to have you here. >> good morning, lester. thank you. >> winter coats, dos and don'ts whether you're a man or a woman. >> exactly. don't go for bulk. you want a sleek style. we have two examples here. this one's for men. lester, this would look good on you. this is from ben sherman, in a chevron print. it has these little ep paulettes on the shoulders to add something extra. for women, also a chevron print and it's versatile and modern. you can wear them to the office or on the weekend. >> dress them up, dress them down. >> exactly. >> i want to talk about sweaters right now. >> yes. >> good time to splurge on cashmere? >> it's not a good time to splurge on cashmere. this is what i'm telling you. you have to be budget conscious and you can get cashmere at a really affordable price. sometimes it can run you up to $500. we found this one for $150. >> i was standing right here and -- >> i know. >> let me talk about men's sweaters. i notice the stripe. is this the in thing? >> it is. eve dlrn 140 is a little much to spend on cashmere. go for a cashmere/cotton blend. this is from j. crew and it's a thick ruggedy stripe. i know a lot of people worry about stripes. it's very trendy. the key to wearing them, keep the stripes thick and in darker colors. you don't want big contrasting colors like a yellow and navy blue. go for the dark colors. you'll look broad, masculine. >> this is a nice look. i like it. >> it's great. >> and denim never goes out of style. >> denim never goes out of style, but the thing to remember is go for the fit, not the trend. there are so many different trendy styles. >> relaxed fit. boot cut. >> you know your stuff, lester. >> i don't know which ones to buy, though. >> here's the key. go for fit. whichever ones look good on you, fit is perennially trendy, it looks great, and you know what, compare it with a great holiday top. >> i was going to ask you about the top. this is a trendy top? >> i'm wearing a holiday top, as well. listen, 'tis the season. you don't want to overload on accessories, but you do want to invest in an embellished holiday top, this one from chop shop, a fun party shirt. >> thanks very much. have a happy holiday. thanks for coming in. here's amy. now to shoes. as we know all too well, style does not always mean comfort. here with some styles to keep your feet happy is women's health magazine. >> thank you for having me. >> we'll start with flats. people think if it's flat it's going to be comfortable. i have a problem with them sometimes. they're not always comfortable. what should you look for? >> there are three things to look for shopping for flats. first of all is breathability, a shoe that breathes. on the skimmer on the front, this is the shoe that breathes. the second thing to look for is arch support, which actually really determines the comfort of a flat. these are by kelsey dagger and they have ever so slight of a wedge and that will give you the arch support you need. >> you can feel it right here when you push in. >> definitely. definitely. >> shoes? >> men's wear styles are very big for women right now. these boat shoes are made by ferry topciders. look for adjustability. these have a 360-degree lacing system which allows you to customize the shoe to your foot so it will move with you. >> perfect. let's move on to heels. this is something i know all too well, they're not very comfortable. what makes the difference? >> the general material is the more material between your foot and the ground the more comfortable it will be. one great option is the chunky-stacked heel that forces you to put all your weight on a chunky heel rather than on a tiny little shrill tet low and you're not teetering around. >> the platform fit. okay. boots are huge this season. i see them everywhere. what determines whether or not a boot feels right or not? >> well, shopping for boots is tricky because there's no breaking-in period so you have to know what you're looking for. if you have a wider, more muscular calf you need to find something that's more generous through the calf. a slouch style is really great. you can also do an ankle bootie or look for lines that are cut more generously through the calfs like this one. >> perfect. those all look very nice and comfy. then when people think sneaker, they think of course this is comfortable. not always. >> not always. fit is such an important thing when it comes to looking for running shoes. there are two types of running shoes. if you have flat, flat arches, the tendency is for your foot to roll inward so you need to look for a stabilizing shoe. underarmor makes a great stabilizing shoe. with high arches and rolling outward, you need a cushioning shoe. these are by asics. if you want the performance of a tennis shoe with the look of something funkier, new balance with 9 west has come out with a line that's very sexy, street chic and functional. >> thanks so much. we appreciate it. coming up next, what is the j secret ingredient in her chili? cececececer) elizabeth is going to show us how easy it is to earn cash back from holiday shopping. that was easy. earn cash back on purchases to pay down your credit card or go into savings. with the power rewards® visa® credit card. only from bank of america. i felt this deep lingering pain that was a complete mystery to me. my doctor diagnosed it as fibromyalgia muscle pain and then he recommended lyrica. fibromyalgia is thought to be the result of over-active nerves that cause chronic, widespread pain. lyrica is fda-approved to help relieve the unique pain of fibromyalgia. and with less pain, i can do more during my day. how sweet is that? lyrica is not for everyone. tell you doctor about any serious allergic reaction that causes swelling or affects breathing or skin, or changes eyesight including blurry vision or muscle pain with fever or tired feeling. lyrica may cause suicidal thoughts or actions in a very small number of people. some of the most common side effects of lyrica are dizziness, sleepiness, weight gain and swelling of hands and feet. do not drink alcohol while taking lyrica. you should never drive or operate machinery until you know how lyrica affects you. if you think you might have fibromyalgia, ask your doctor about lyrica. thousands and thousands of wind turbines. my mom works on ct scanners and checks people's bones. if you had a business, my dad would help make your business bigger. my papa thinks of new things that have never been made before. (announcer) it's the people at ge that are creating innovation today for america's tomorrow. my mom helps make things to make people better. oh, your mom brought that over. no way! these are the ornaments from when i was a kid. this is from mommy's first ballet recital. oh, and this is when i got a two-wheeler. pretty awesome. i used to have one of these. there's a new one. "for lucy, to get her started. love, grandma." look lucy, this one's for you. ( gasps ) hallmark keepsake ornaments. at your hallmark gold crown store. one of many ways to find meaning inside. today's holiday sweets and spice. "christmas food, friends, families and festivitiefestivit" simple and sinful recipes. good to see you. >> good to see you. >> happy holidays. >> thank you. >> we're doing chili. we have the beans and the meat. then i see chocolate chips? >> yeah. tradition is we have cocoa powder in because that cocoa, obviously is the base of chocolate, but it's quite bitter when it's not sweet. i wouldn't put, you know, some milk chocolate in here, but that bitterness and smokiness and richness adds a level -- >> it's very traditional. what are we going to do? >> i've got onions and garlic and some chili. then some cinnamon. i think the holidays you should be arrested for not putting cinnamon in. >> cinnamon. >> it's so comforting and lovely. and some cumin, some coriander. >> and you have to onions in there that have been sauteing. >> exactly. i like it quite hot, so chili flakes and some cardemon. a wonderful spices. tomato paste. ketchup. >> okay. >> yes. >> sausage. that adds spice to it. >> now, this you can use beef or regular stewed beef. and basically, we can put all those in, but you have to tomatoes -- >> okay, the tomato. you have me saying toma toe. >> that's good. i do want to show you at is this stage -- >> this is where we would be. >> this -- can you imagine a large crowd of people, chocolate chips. >> what made you decide to put chocolate chips? >> just because i wanted to see if -- i think chocolate, if it's dark chocolate, bittersweet chocolate, actually does lend itself to that kind of taste, the richness. i think it adds a real something. you would never guess there was chocolate in there. it doesn't give it -- it doesn't taste like candy. >> walk around and look at the final preparation as we magically move time forward here. >> yes. we are disobeying the laws of physics. >> you have a baked potato on the side, stuffed potato. >> seasonal success. >> got to try this. >> let me give you a teeny bit of parsley. >> how describe this? >> it's got a kind of roundedness and sumptuousness that makes you feel both comfort ed and solid. >> i do taste it in here. >> just in case that's not enough for you, i have some girdle buster pie. >> girdle buster pie. >> the name says it all. >> i know, but what all is in it? >> chocolate chips, graham crackers, ice cream and a caramel sauce. >> and truth in advertising. girdle busting. nigella lawson, thanks for being here. >> thank you. >> up next, is he the real deal? we're back and we want to check in on the progress of our young artist, kieron williamson in england. >> can't wait to see what he's done in a half an hour or so. kieron, tell us. it looks beautiful. >> i've painted holcombe along the north norfolk. >> that's a great shot. normally you say it takes about two hours. are you finished with it? >> pardon? >> are you finished with the painting? >> yes. >> wow. well, it's beautiful. how much do you think that painting is worth, kieron? >> a thousand? >> i think that you might be right. could be even more given how much your other paintings fetched the other day. >> for folks who were here, about $28,000 in paintings that he sold in 16 minutes. >> pretty impressive. kieron, thanks so much. it's beautiful. we appreciate that you could paint for us. and we're going to be watching your continued success. ♪ my dad, he helps build thousands and thousands of wind turbines. my mom works on ct scanners and checks people's bones. if you had a business, my dad would help make your business bigger. my papa thinks of new things that have never been made before. (announcer) it's the people at ge that are creating innovation today for america's tomorrow. my mom helps make things to make people better. she's going to show how easy it is to keep track of her bank accounts. yep. pretty easy. set up alerts to know what's going on with your accounts. with bank of america. - is she awake? - just fell asleep. why are you up? it's 2:00 a.m. - it's not just 2:00 a.m. it's 2:00 a.m. christmas morning. it's our first christmas as a family. i couldn't wait. male announcer: levian jewelry, featuring levian chocolate diamonds. levian: one more reason kay is the number one jewelry store in america. - you think she'll remember this christmas? - i know i will. our thanks to bill karins and tamron hall. coming up tomorrow on "today," what you need to know if you're mail ordering your holiday gifts. >> plus, we're going to meet an orangutan who has been trained to take pictures with a digital camera. we're going to tell you how this works. don't laugh at me. see you for "nbc nightly news" tonight. so long, everybody. >> good morning good morning, and welcome. >> wintry weather makes its way into maryland today. our meteorologist has more on how much snow to expect. good morning. >> good morning. it is raining right now in the baltimore metropolitan area. and off to our northwest, a few snow salt lake city have mixed in. but -- snow flakes have micked in. here's what the map will look like. we're moving across and then up toward cape cod by evening. so with this low pressure center off shore, not a full blown nor'easter but something similar to that. with that in the vicinity and cold air being drawn in behind it, will a change our temperatures during the day today. falling through the 30s. so any rain we've got changes over to snow. we do expect some light accumulations. in the neefert corner of the state and westward. warnings out for the mountains of virginia and west virginia. we're talking about one to three inches around the beltway. a little more perhaps up in carol county. and again, snow comts into the noirk later this afternoon and this evening with a mix in the morning. >> up next, dr. kim has answers to your pet questions and we'll have more. >> an off duty police officer involved in a shooting. what happened at a northeast baltimore liquor store coming up. >> expecting company? make entertaining easier than ever. >> plus sports. [captioning made possible by constellation energy group] >> welcome to 11 news saturday morning. >> top stories just a moment. first take a look outside with meteorologist john. we need a drum roll. >> the first one of the season. we're lucky, the ground is still relatively warm, above freezing. and it is a weekend. so that's the upside. the downside is we have snow in the forecast and we're talking accumulating snow, not just a tease here. at the moment around the metro area it's rain. had some calls up north where snow is mixed in. and we can see that. northern baltimore county, the northern half of carol county has had some snow flakes mixed in with rain this morning.

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