Transcripts For WRC Today 20110203

lindsay lohan under investigation for grand theft after a pricey missing necklace shows up around her neck. if she stole it, it could spell big trouble for her, thursday, if she stole it, it could spell big trouble for her, thursday, february 3rd, 2011. captions paid for by nbc-universal television and welcome to "today" on this thursday morning. i'm meredith vieira. >> i'm matt lauer. let's look at the scene in tahrir square in cairo where members of the egyptian military have placed themselves between anti-government protesters and supporters of hosni mubarak. >> they have set up barricades between the two sides, but it is unclear how effective they will be. but this morning it is not like the scene overnight where angry clashes turned deadly. constant gunfire could be heard, and trees and cars were set on fire. coming up, we'll talk to an american woman who lives there. she is trapped inside her apartment. she has a dramatic story to tell. let's begin with richard engel who is in cairo. what a dramat, difference between the image of the streets we just showed and the video we've seen over the last 12 hours. tell me about it. >> -- in the dark hours yesterday to separate these crowds. >> all right. we're clearly having some issues, technical issues with richard's signal coming out of cairo. we also have lester holt on the ground in egypt. perhaps, lester, you can bring me up to date on the latest. >> matt, it was a -- the fighting went on into the night. when you thought they couldn't fight anymore, mallative cauolos were being thrown off of buildings. shields were set up, metal barricades to withstand the attack of the pro-government forces. we understand that pro-government forces may have again seized control. this fight over turf, this square in the middle of town. during the night, gunfires raged just right here. gun fights between who knows know. the soldiers fire weapons generally over the tops of the protesters' heads to keep them down, to try to disburse them. other than that, they're not doing anything to contain the crowds. we can tell you that president mubarak on state tv today made a rare apology for what happened yesterday when those armed thugs came into the square and began beating on people. we can also tell you that the muslim brotherhood of mohamed elbaradei, the opposing groups here, have refused to sit down and negotiate until mubarak himself steps down. i can also tell you this morning that at least 1,800 americans have left this country on evacuation flights sponsored by the state department. they've left the country. thousands of others remain. the state department is saying if you want to leave, get to the airport during non-curfew hours. unclear how many americans were voluntarily in the square when the attack happened, but we talked to one elderly american woman. her name is mary thornbush. she lives adjacent to the square where all this is happening. she desperately wants out. we talked to her a bit earlier. a life-long patient for ancient egypt brought the retired nurse seen in this old photograph to cairo 15 years ago. her apartment across from the egyptian museum and tahrir square has put her in the middle of the violent protests as she described to brian williams by telephone. >> how worried are you about your safety? >> i have a sharp knife. i have hot water. i have my walking cane and i have my rolling pin. that's my armory. >> and that's what you have to defend yourself against these protesters? >> yes. i have nobody but myself. i really don't want to leave because the place will be vandalized. and it's my home. so i just wish someone would come and take these thugs away and let me go on with my life. >> reporter: all night, the fighting erupted around her. today mary told me she was hoping to leave and agreed to speak to us and come out with us. but with the street battles unfolding, the question we wrestled with was could we safely reach her? we're roughly here. and she's right about here. that's less than a quarter mile. >> that's the overpass right there where all the fighting was overnight. >> reporter: from a window in our central cairo workspace, we thought we could see her building just beyond the smoke. i decided to test the water. i ventured into the streets where gun battles had raged just hours earlier. beneath the underpass, we could see clashes forming. they've seen our camera, but we're probably drawing more attention. we're going to move on. this is the difficulty. we could -- we're a minute's walk from where she is, but we can't risk it. a university student we encountered advised us against going any farther. >> there is this -- i don't know, violent tone against foreign media. >> reporter: minutes later from a secure balcony, we witnessed this just a few hundred feet from where we had ventured. i broke the news to mary that for now it appears she's unreachable. >> reporter: we really want to get into that part of town and see what's going on, but you don't want to get anyone -- >> oh, heavens no. no, no, no way. >> reporter: as soon as we can get over there, we'll come knocking at your door. and, meredith, we have seen egyptian soldiers grab people from the edges who are trying to get out. but they seem to be making no move to help anyone who may be trapped inside to get out of that zone. >> very dangerous situation. lester holt, thank you so much. mary thornburg is with us. her son is also joining us from easton, washington. good morning. mary, if i could start with you, it is now afternoon in cairo. what is the situation outside your apartment? what is going on as far as you know? >> well, of course my front door, the glass is still broken. so there's -- anyone can do things through the door, if they desire to. i still have a knife and i still have the rest of my armory that i will use. there's no one at my door at this moment. a little bit earlier, there were people around on two different occasions. but right now, there's no one there. i hear some noise, some voices in the background. and a few moments ago, i heard some people coming down from the roof. i heard steps. my building was the one that had most of the maolotov cocktails thrown on it last night. >> mary, are you the only one still in that building, the only resident of that building who's still there? >> as far as i know. my -- apparently my -- was overpowered and he fled. he's gone, prudently. and i'm told that my building is trashed below, all the way, except for me. and last night about -- at 5:00, then that's when these hoodlums and thugs came to my door and attempted to get in. and they actually broke the glass on my door, reached in, and i attemptattempted to take which was in the door, in the lock at the time. but i took the key. i got the key. >> mary, it sounds frightening. i know you said yesterday you did not want to leave because you were afraid if you did, the thugs would come back and loot the place. you've obviously changed your mind. why? what made you decide you want to get out of there? >> my son. my son called me and told me that i really should. so i doubled back and thought again. and, yes, i'll -- i'll leave. but i intend to come back. >> and the question now is how do you get out? as lester just said, he tried it reach you and was unable. have you been able to talk to anybody who can get to you? what is your plan? >> my friends have been most supportive. and yesterday they contacted the emergency numbers on the television. they contacted the army. they contacted the police. they contacted the american embassy. without any effect. >> let me bring in your son, phil, right now. phil, as your mom said, she's leaving or attempting to leave because you asked her to. i know you've been very worried about her. you yourself contacted the u.s. embassy. is that correct? >> well, we've had some contacts with them. basically it was a situation where we were told that they just didn't have enough personnel and we were pretty much on our own. they were very polite about it. my concern has been -- i teach a current world problems class. i'm a high school teacher. we've been following this with our class on the various channels. and it's been clear, the escalation that's been taking place. we've had the internet down and i haven't been able to get in touch with her until yesterday morning. and that's just when things were really getting bad. and she's lived in cairo now for 15 years. she loves the place. she loves the people. she's been very happy there. i've always been a little bit concerned about something like this happening. and she's always placated me on this because she's always said the only thing you have to worry about is when mubarak dies or retired and the son takes over. that's the time when there's -- things will get a little dicy. the time table has moved up here a little bit. and i think it's time to use discretion and she needs to come home for a while. >> phil, because we have mary by phone and you can speak with her directly, is there anything you want to say to your mom right now? she can respond. >> no, i think we -- we've been actually in touch. i've been very surprised how easily we've been able to be in touch. i thought maybe there would be problems on this. once the phone and internet was restored, we've been able to talk. the last time we talked, mom, was, what, about an hour ago? >> pretty much so, yes. that's about right. >> yeah. so the only -- the real concern i have right now, she hasn't had any sleep during this time. i'm concerned about that. the curfew is coming up at 5:00. they're about ten hours ahead of us. so it's about 1:30, 2:00 there now. >> yes. >> and so i'm concerned that she's going to -- she's going to end up another night there. >> yes. >> and friday is going to be the big demonstration day. i -- you know, she could be there for a while. >> well, mary thornberry, we're so appreciative that you've spent time talking with us this morning. please stay safe. >> thank you. i wish to comment that i'm very displeased with the treatment i did not receive from the american embassy. >> well-put, mary. thank you very much. phil, thank you for being here with us. we wish your mom the very best. it is 7:12. here's matt. here at home, a blast of arctic air is adding to the misery caused by that huge winter storm that dumped a dangerous mix of snow and ice over a 2,100-mile swath from texas all the waymaine. al is still snowed in in chicago. good morning again, al. >> well, good morning, matt. right now it is 4 degrees above a windchill of 7 below. and it's just going to get worse. of course, folks here in chicago and along a 2,100-mile path are still digging out from this storm of historic proportions. this time, the storm lived up to the hype as snow, ice, and freezing temperatures gripped much of the country. >> in a storm of this magnitude, there is no way to predict from minute to minute what problems may arise. >> reporter: chicago recorded its third biggest storm ever with over 20 inches of snow and winds that exceeded 60 miles per hour at times. whiteouts stopped the evening rush hour in its tracks, leaving scenic lakeshore drive a snow-covered parking lot. outside boston, the accumulation of heavy snow caved in the roof of an office building. and on interstate 93 in new hampshire, a chain reaction accident forced one car to literally take a nose dive. the storm also halted air travel, leaving some with tickets to sunday's big game delayed. >> we're going to come home with a lombardi trophy, baby! >> reporter: super bowl bound fans could find dallas still reeling from an icy superstorm as temperatures continue to plummet. for much of the country, it's an icy mess. throughout indiana, crews are dealing with downed power lines. the roads are slick as well. a news van from channel 5 in cincinnati skidded into a country ditch and had to be towed. as street crews and homeowners began to dig out, fatigue and frustration set in. >> if you have nothing to do, stay home. >> it's pretty, but my husband owes me a larger snow blower. >> reporter: but others took it in stride. and welcomed the midweek day off. >> i think it's great. it's nice to have a snow day. >> and, of course, the bad news is we've got another storm that we're going to tell you about coming up out of the south. here we've got to deal with bitterly cold temperatures. not just in chicago. as far south and west as texas. take a look at the windchill advisories and windchill warnings, stretching back from el paso all the way up into the great lakes. windchills right now, this morning, bitterly cold. we're talking windchills anywhere 10 to 20 may cause more over the next 72 hours. matt? >> all right, al. we appreciate it. we'll check win you in a little while and get your local forecast. for now let's get a check of the other top stories with ann curry at the news desk. good morning. >> meredith and matt, good morning. good morning, everybody. we begin with shock waves with the crisis in egypt that are rippling across the middle east. despite an offer from the president of yemen to step down in 2013, an estimated 20,000 protesters swarmed the streets of yemen this morning. they're calling it a day of rage and supporters of the current government in yemen are also gathering today, saying they want stability. australian officials are expressing amazement that there have been no reports of any deaths or serious injuries in the wake of cyclone yasi. there was a lot of damage, and reporter david cosh from australia's channel 7 joins us from townsville australia, 150 miles south of where the massive storm made landfall. david, good morning. >> good morning, ann. three babies were born in evacuation centers at the height of the storm. yasi was the biggest cyclone to hit this country in our history. it was more powerful than the hurricane katrina. winds up to 295 kilometers an hour. it was its size that made it a monster. to give you an idea, it would have stretched from pennsylvania across to nevada and from georgia up to the canadian border. thankfully, it crossed the coast between two major cities, townsville and cairns. about halfway between them. so damage was limited, although wiped out a number of small communities. these days, there are still 200,000 homes without power and many without water. and to give you an indication how this storm keeps going, there are now flood warnings from as far -- to as far inland as airs rock and also ellis springs. >> all right. david cosh, thank you for your reporting. be safe there. as expected, the senate has blocked a republican-led effort to repeal the new health care law. the next step is likely to be the u.s. supreme court, which could decide the law's ultimate fate next year. a california school janitor is in custody after police say he shot and killed an elementary school principal in his office. no children were hurt in that incident. some 43.6 million americans are currently relying on food stamps for groceries. that's according to the department of agriculture. that's 15% of the u.s. population. the percentage is higher in some places. more than 1/5 of residents in washington, d.c. and mississippi currently rely on food stamps. meantime, wall street is having a strong week. trish regan is with us. trish, what's on tap today? >> a lot more earnings are coming out, a lot of economic data. the other big concern, you just mentioned food stamps, but it's food inflation that's happening on a global level. you look at wheat prices, up 114%. corn up 88%. sugar at a 30-year high. and some believe that the easy-money policies of the federal reserve have actually contributed to this. so it will be very interesting to hear from ben bernanke, head of the federal reserve today. he will be taking questions from reporters. also, the president of the ecb, the european central bank, is going to be speaking. he's been very concerned about inflation, very hawkish on inflation. so we may see some differences or perhaps even similarities between the two. but watch for comments from the fed heads. >> trish regan, thanks. today begins the year of the rabbit in the lunar new year celebrated in most of asia. festivities include lion and dragon dances, fireworks, temple visits and flower markets to mark the arrival of spring. it is now 7:20. let's go back to matt and meredith. the year of the rabsbit is supposed to be a lot more calm than the year of the tiger. >> it's not starting out calm. >> people born in the year of the rabbit are articulate, talented and ambitious. >> i wasn't born in the year of the rabbit. >> you were born in the year of the snake. >> you're a rooster. >> that's good. >> snakes are good. >> snakes can eat roosters. that's all i have to say. easily. let's go back out to chicago, get the rest of al's forecast. al, good morning again. good morning. here we have what was liquid yesterday turning to ice this morning. so, watch out for patchy ice on your front steps, sidewalks, side streets and some of the roads, too. temperatures are below freezing. we're in the 20s throughout the entire region. highs today mid-30s with sunshine and a blustery northwest wind. that will settle down later today. and mostly cloudy tomorrow with a high near 40. after midnight friday night, might get a little sleet or freezing rain, changing to rain during the day saturday. may end as a brief period of wet >> and that's your latest weather. we'll have more on this next storm coming up in the next half hour, matt. >> thank you so much. coming up, lindsay lohan under investigation for allegedly stealing a one-of-a-kind necklace. could it land her back behind bars? we'll get the latest on that. just ahead, how would you react if you discovered the love of your life was gay? one woman opens up about the news that turned her world upside down. and the rare condition that causes this girl to shed her own skin, after your local news. ♪ call 1-800-steemer ever wish vegetables didn't taste so vegetably? well, v8 v-fusion juice gives you a full serving of vegetables, plus a full serving of fruit. but it just tastes like fruit. v8. what's your number? and more. if you replace 3 tablespoons of sugar a day with splenda® you'll save 100 calories a day. that could help you lose up to 10 pounds in a year. that's how splenda® is sweet...and more. i like that. cool. quitting sucks. carl, we're gonna grab a smoke? nah. i'm good. [ woman ] hi, carl! hi! [ male announcer ] quitting sucks. nicorette makes it suck less. and for fast craving relief that goes wherever you go, try the smaller, more convenient nicorette mini lozenge. good morning. it's 7:26 on this thursday, the third day of february. i'm joe krebs. in the news today, black ice is a big problem this morning. a prince george's county police officer found that out, hitting a patch of ice and slamming into a utility pole. the officer's in the hospital right now. he's expected to be okay. this crash happened on piscataway road near steed road in the clinton area. we'll check the roads and get the traffic and th hey, what are you drinkin'? i'm drinkin' dunkin'. coffee -- black, straight up. extra cream, three sugars. iced coffee french vanilla. for me. iced coffee with a turbo shot. i'm drinkin' dunkin'. i'm drinkin' dunkin'. i'm drinkin' dunkin'. drinkin' dunkin'. america runs on dunkin' coffee. watch out for patchy ice this morning. it's in the 20s now. windchills in the teens. later today, climbing into the mid-30s with some sunshine. winds will diminish. friday, near 40 and mostly cloudy. and then after friday, midnight, might get a little freezing rain, perhaps some sleet, changing to rain saturday, ending as a little snow. jerry, how's traffic? >> chopper 4, upper montgomery county, georgia avenue, new hampshire avenue. georgia avenue shut down because of what appeared to be a serious crash and icy conditions. they're treating the roadway, so just an example of what we're up against this morning. virginia, accident 395 northbound in the hov lanes at duke street. only one travel lane getting by. the backup begins back at the beltway. and one more stop, south capitol street and "i" street, jammed. signal light problems again this morning. extra travel time there. joe? thank you, jerry. millions received it in the mail. it looks like a government 7:30 now on a thursday morning. third day of february, 2011. central park looks pretty from the top of the rock. snow-covered fields and reservoirs, nice if you have a chance if you're in new york to take a walk, although cold today. but no snow in the immediate forecast for us. maybe another storm brewing over the weekend. we'll hear more about that in just a bit. meanwhile, inside studio 1a, i'm matt lauer with meredith vieira. >> lindsay lohan is wearing a necklace that was stolen from a jewelry store near her home. now lohan is being investigated for grand theft. we'll have details coming up. how about this story? we're going to meet a 5-year-old girl who suffers from a rare condition that causes her to shed her skin just about every single day. we'll talk more about that. and then what would you do if you found out our fiance was gay? one woman was floored by her boyfriend of ten years when she discovered that he was cheating on her with men for years. it happens more often than you might believe. she'll share her story. we begin with that alleged jewelry theft investigation centered on lindsay lohan. kristen welker is in los angeles with the latest. kristen, good morning. >> good morning, matt. lindsay lohan just got out of rehab a month ago. by all accounts, she's been working hard to get her life back on track. so these new allegations could be a major setback. >> hey, lindsay. did you steal the necklace? >> reporter: lindsay lohan ignored reporters outside the santa monica courthouse wednesday after allegations surfaced that lohan stole this $2,500 necklace from a venice jewelry store near her home on january 22nd. >> soon after the necklace was allegedly stolen, we see a picture that appears to be the necklace hanging around lindsay lohan's neck. that's evidence that the police are taking very seriously. >> reporter: in a written statement, the lapd said they obtained a search warrant on tuesday to look for the missing necklace in lohan's apartment. but prior to service of the warrant, the necklace was returned. hollywood insiders say a lohan aide gave the necklace back. >> there are reports that lindsay is denying that she knew it was taken, that a stylist took it and that she wore it but didn't know where it came from. >> reporter: representatives with the jewelry shop tell nbc news the gave police surveillance video which shows lohan in their store on the day the necklace disappeared. now it will be up to the los angeles county district attorney to determine whether charges will be filed. >> the da will make a decision. can they prove that she was shoplifting? you have to prove that the person had an intent to permfantly derive the owner of his property. >> reporter: it's not the first time the actress has been accused of having sticky fingers. in 2009, lohan settled out of court after leaving a nightclub with someone else's mink coat. speculation also swirled later that year when gems totaling $400,000 disappeared after lohan posed for an elle magazine photo shoot. and again when a friend's rolex went missing. she was never charged in either instance. these new allegations couldn't come at a worse time. the troubled actress is currently under investigation in riverside county for allegedly assaulting an employee at the betty ford clinic where she was a patient for three months. lohan was ordered to rehab by judge elden fox for violating her probation on a 2007 dui arrest. analysts say lohan could be in real trouble this time. >> if she's convicted of either shoplifting or assaulting the betty ford worker, the case is going to be sent to judge fox and one would have to assume that if she's convicted of either of those charges, that he's going to put her in jail. >> now, the district attorney's office wouldn't comment, except to say that no charges have been filed at this time. nbc news did reach out to lohan's attorney for comment, but never heard back. the actress has a previously scheduled status hearing set for february 25th. matt? >> kristen welker, thank you. susan is an nbc news legal analyst. robby ludwig is a psychotherapist. ladies, good morning. the legal term for this is oy, i believe. she is already on probation for that dui back in 2007. is this a real big deal? >> that's latin, right, matt? >> exactly. >> this is a real big deal. the legal analyst that commented earlier is correct. if this goes back to the same judge -- and he's arrested for this conduct, she's going to prison. >> intent to steal. can you help me with that? how do they prove intent to steal, that she intended to permanently deny access to that necklace to the owner? >> she took it. >> that's what the non-legalese is. >> right. it's not rocket science. basically what she's going to try to say is, oh, they let me take it on approval. but, i mean, come on. >> let's not be so cynical. this is hollywood. there are stylists and they're constantly procuring things for their clients. is it possible that there's a lack of communication here between the store owner, the stylist and lindsay lohan? >> that's what the district attorney's office is looking into now. what's the claim of the store? because what i -- what i read is that the store is basically saying they saw it on a website on her neck. that would tend to suggest that they didn't say, oh, go ahead and take it. >> the chain of events here, they've got video allegedly of lindsay lohan in the store, they have video of lindsay wearing the necklace in the store and then they've got this photo of her wearing it out of the store. if you're her legal team, how do you defend against that evidence? >> the other thing they could say supposedly is that it was given to her on approval but then she didn't give it back in time. but really that's not a defense. i mean, you could make that argument after she's arrested, but as a prosecutor, i'd tend to say let's arrest her and see what she does with it. >> robbie, we know this is a young lady with issues. that's been well-documented. if -- we must say if there is also a larceny issue here, is it possible the two are related? >> well, it's not uncommon for people who steal to have co-existing disorders. so sometimes they're alcoholics, sometimes they have eating disorders, very often there's a mood issue of depression or anxiety. so it's really not uncommon. part of what gets them to do it is the adrenalin rush. it gets them out of a depression. it feels good. >> well, i'm glad you bring that up. let's keep in -- again, if -- and susan is looking at me. if she stole this, what is it about larceny among people who can otherwise afford to buy things? >> right. >> it's so unusual. >> it's striking. you're wealthy enough -- you're wealthy enough. you can buy it. it's never about the object. it's always about trying to fill up something. maybe you're angry and you feel you're entitled to something. maybe you want to give a gift to yourself. maybe you're trying not to feel depressed or anxious. so it's always about the high that it gives you. >> the to boo. >> the feeling of control of being able to get over, being able to steal and not get noticed. so it's that -- it's that edge that it gives you. >> just real quickly, back to you, susan, the necklace was returned. that's a good thing. in some ways, is it also an admission of guilt? >> i think it is. why didn't she bring it back to it the store? why did she bring it to the police? what i also read, it seems there was a leak that the search warrant was issued for her house. and before they could get to their house, the necklace was brought back. not to the store, but to the police. >> she has a history of that. >> i think that's consciousness of guilt. >> no charges -- >> no, but there's usually a pattern if you're looking at it psychologically, not legally, you -- you know, usually they -- there is a pattern -- >> i think there's a culture of enabling going on around celebrities, around addiction and particularly around lindsay lohan. i think it's time that there's a period of incarceration. >> let us remember, innocent until proven guilty. >> but you can be incarcerated for misconduct without charges. this is a violation of probation, whether she's arrested or not, in my view. >> ladies, thank you both. i appreciate it. 7:38. let's head to chicago and get a check of the weather from al. we are off to a freezing-cold start on this thursday morning. good morning. i'm meteorologist tom kierein. what melted yesterday has frozen up this morning. we're down into the 20s throughout the entire region. it's 29 at national airport. later today, highs just into the mid-30s and we'll have these morning winds that are a bit gusty now settling down later. and then tonight, partly cloudy. low 20s tomorrow morning. increasing clouds friday with a high near 40. after midnight friday night, there may be a little freezing rain and sleet, then mostly rain saturday, may end as a little wet snow. >> of course, with all this wild weather, make sure you check the weather channel on cable for your latest forecast or go to weather.com online. matt? >> al, thank you. up next, a curious medical story. a little girl who sheds her skin just about every day. we'll meet her right after this. from jet engines that have fewer emissions, to new ways to charge electric cars, to renewable sources of clean energy, ecomagination from ge is advanced technology that's good for both the economy and the environment. ♪ it's technology that makes the world work. [ squawking ] ♪ "you're an amazing, beautiful woman." "i love you." - that's not on there. - no, it's in here. - savings on select diamond fashion: one more reason kay is the number one jewelry store in america. [ male announcer ] it's morning... and quaker loves morning. ♪ because when you start your day with the power of oatmeal it's good for your heart. it gives you energy. and it can turn an ordinary day into an extraordinary day. ♪ quaker oatmeal is more than breakfast. it's a superfood. back now at 7:43 with our special series "curious medicine." this morning, the 5-year-old girl who suffers from an extremely rare condition that causes her to constantly shed her skin. nbc's michelle kaczynski has details. >> it's mine. >> reporter: spend a day with annabelle. >> who is that going to be? >> reporter: it's hard to keep up with this sweet, chatty 5-year-old. but everything stops when it's treatment time. thick creams rubbed on to her skin several times a day, on her hands and face every half hour. it's hard for annabelle. plus, the endless questions from strangers. >> one taxi driver asked me if i put her in a microwave oven. so a little insensitive. >> reporter: now annabelle can pronounce what she's dealing with. >> ichthyosis. >> reporter: ichthyosis, a genetic skin condition that only affects about 3 in 1 million people. as a newborn, annabelle's doctors had to carefully remove a thick skin membrane that covered her entire body. whereas most of us shed a layer of skin every two weeks, annabelle's skin regenerates once a day. if her parents didn't exfoliate her morning and night, apply the lotions and the bandage garmmentes, her skin would thicken and harden like scales from head to toe. it still happens sometimes. annabelle saved us one of these scales to show us. >> it's like snake skin that sheds. and comes off. >> reporter: initially annabelle had a hard time at school. but once her mom explained to the other kids what was going on, annabelle could be the friendly, popular little girl she is. though now she's asking those tough questions. why? >> the hardest thing to deal with is when does annabelle come out and say, i wish i didn't have skin like that. to me as a mother, that's like a knife through my heart. i wish i could take it away from her. unfortunately, i can't. >> reporter: ichthyosis is so rare, medical experts say there's not much funding for research to find that gene and potentially a cure. her parents now lead a support group with a website that connects people around the world. for annabelle, it's a constant battle with her own skin, but at age 5, she's learning to live her life around it. >> i swam five meters. >> reporter: for "today," miz l michelle kaczynski. >> and up next, new york's legendary apartment building, the dakota, where john lennon was shot, accused of racial discrimination. richard, why are you wearing grandpa's jacket? i'm not richard. i'm grandpa smucker. male announcer: tim and richard smucker always looked up to their father and grandfather knowing that one day they too would make the world's best jam. grandpa says it like, i've never tasted anything so delicious! i've never tasted anything so delicious! tim: [ laughing ] you got it! male announcer: for five generations, with a name like smucker's, it has to be good. the moisturizer in other body washes sits on top of skin. only dove has nutriummoisture, which can nourish deep down. dove body wash with nutriummoisture. superior natural nourishment for your skin. but one is so clever that your skin looks better even after you take it off. neutrogena® healthy skin liquid makeup. 98% saw improved skin. does your makeup do that? neutrogena® cosmetics. special k protein shakes -- ♪ a truly great-tasting breakfast shake. with 10 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber, it's the creamy, delicious way to satisfy... your hunger to help you lose weight. ♪ so you can kick the tin can habit. try special k protein shakes today. so you can kick the tin can habit. the best device for everything you love to read editors' choice. best dedicated ereader. magazines look spectacular. fantastic device. touch the future of reading at barnes and noble. nookcolor. [ beep ] [ beep ] [ beep ] [ beep ] [ male announcer ] find an italian masterpiece in your grocer's freezer. shrimp and lobster ravioli with garlic butter sauce, from buitoni. simple ingredients, artfully prepared. buitoni. create an italian masterpiece. discover more buitoni masterpieces in the freezer section. back at 7:48. the dakota is a new york city landmark. it's the apartment building with john lennon was shot and currently the home to many wealthy tenants. now there are allegations of wrong-doing behind the gates. jeff rosson there this morning with details. good morning to you. >> hey, matt. good morning. we talk about luxury buildings in new york city, especially here in manhattan. this goes well beyond that. the dakota is so exclusive -- you can see how pretty it is. listen to the people who have put in applications to live her but were reportedly rejected by the co-op board. cher, madonna, and antonio ban derr derris. somebody who lives her right now says the board and the building are guilty of racial discrimination. it is home to the mega-rich and the mega-famous. judy garland, joe namath, lauren bucall and yoko ono have all lived here. the it dakota, one of the most legendary buildings in all of new york city. former resident john lennon was shot and killed outside here in 1980. fans still flock to the site. the dakota has impressive movie credits, too, including "rosemary's baby." apartments here can run you north of $20 million. >> the dakota is a co-op. you can have all the money in the world. you need to go through the board to be approved to buy an apartment in the building. they can reject you at will for any reason they want. >> reporter: now a rare peek inside this secret enclave as an ugly neighbor-on-neighbor battle plays out in public. alfawns fletcher jr. is a wealthy money manager. recently fletcher says he wanted to expand and buy the apartment next door as well. an all-cash deal worth $5.7 million, but the board rejected his application. now fletcher has filed this lawsuit against the dakota and the board calling it discrimination, saying they blocked the sale because of an extensive pattern of hostility toward non-white residents of the building. >> these cases are generally really tough to prove, especially if you add the fact that he already lives there and it's a diverse building. >> reporter: just years ago, fletcher himself was president of the co-op board. he recalls movie star couple melanie griffith and antonio ban derris applying for an apartment. the board wouldn't even grant them an interview. and the lawsuit also claims the board discriminated against another famous black resident, rober roberta flack. now in his case, fletcher wants at least $15 million in damages and still wants that new apartment. >> this is highly unusual for something like this to be made public, especially in a building like the dakota that prides itself on privacy and anonymity for its high-profile residents. >> late last night i spoke to the president of the co-op board here who told me this decision was just about mr. fletcher's personal finances. in a statement he told nbc news, and i'm quoting here, his outrageous accusation s are untrue and at odds with the facts that board has previously approved his purchase of several apartments. he has been repeatedly elected to the board and his mother currently serves on the board. the dakota has always valued the diversity of our community. matt, at this point, there is no word of a settlement yet. this may end up just as a real public elbarsment for a lot of people. >> jeff, thank you. we're back after your local news. tuna is a natural source of omega 3's and that is good for your heart. these 27 latin lovers agree... [ latin lovers ] we agree! ♪ si bonita, we agree! oh muchachos. well there you have it! tuna, it's good for your heart. [ latin lover ] tuna the wonderfish. well there you have it! tuna, it's good for your heart. nothing starts your day like honey roasted, honey bunches of oats. the perfect balance of crunchy flakes and clusters, with a kiss of golden honey. delicious. and the same calories per serving as special k original. so, try honey roasted, honey bunches of oats! heck try 'em all. it seems like your life with rheis split in two.s, there's the life you live... and the life you want to live. fortunately there's enbrel. enbrel can help relieve pain, stiffness, fatigue, and stop joint damage. because enbrel suppresses your immune system, it may lower your ability to fight infections. serious, sometimes fatal, events including infections, tuberculosis, lymphoma, and other cancers, and nervous system and blood disorders have occurred. before starting enbrel, your doctor should test you for tuberculosis. ask your doctor if you live or have lived in an area where certain fungal infections are common. don't start enbrel if you have an infection like the flu. tell your doctor if you're prone to infections, have cuts or sores, have had hepatitis b, have been treated for heart failure, or if, while on enbrel, you experience persistent fever, bruising, bleeding, or paleness. ask your rheumatologist if enbrel is right for you. and help bridge the gap between the life you live... and the life you want to live. good morning. our temperature right now is 28 degrees. at 7:56 here in the nation's capitol, clouds overhead. it is the 3rd of february. i'm joe krebs. in the news today, mayor martin o'malley takes on pepco. they will propose legislation proposing reliability standards for those companies. today, virginia leaders are expected to announce that the state will no longer build high-occupancy toll or hot lanes on a six-mile stretch of i-395 inside the beltway. arlington county has been battling the state and even filed a lawsuit to prevent these lanes from being built. we'll take a break now. we'll take a break now. we'll come back to look at our the moment you feel run down or achy nip flu-like symptoms in the bud, with oscillococcinum. get oscillo and feel like yourself again. oscillococcinum, nip it in the bud. coffee -- black, straight up. extra cream, three sugars. iced coffee french vanilla. for me. iced coffee with a turbo shot. i'm drinkin' dunkin'. i'm drinkin' dunkin'. i'm drinkin' dunkin'. drinkin' dunkin'. america runs on dunkin' coffee. good morning. patchy ice. we're in the 20s now with a blustery northwest wind. later today into the mid-30s. then tomorrow we'll have increasing clouds with highs near 40. could get some freezing rain and sleet after midnight friday night into saturday morning, changing to rain saturday and maybe ending as a little snow saturday afternoon and evening. now, jerry, how's traffic? >> tom, got to watch out for ice this morning. chopper 4 was over the scene of a head-on crash just a short time ago, upper montgomery county, georgia avenue southbound and new hampshire avenue. the road was icy and is currently being treated, but just an example. we've had lots of reports of ice, so be very careful. don't want that to happen. on interstates 395 northbound at duke street, the accident now over to the shoulder, but we are slammed from the occoquan river most of the way to landmark in shirlington. joe? >> thanks, jerry. millions of americans received it in the mail. it looks like a government survey and asks for your personal information, but 8:00 now on this thursday morning, february 3rd, 2011. we have a happy crowd. small but happy. it's kind of cold here. getting in well-deserved camera time on a bitter cold morning. lenny, always joining us. we love him. i'm meredith vieira alongside matt lauer. just ahead, when the person of your dreams turns out to be living a lie, which happens more often than you think. after dating for ten years, carrie's fiance told her he was gay. now she's opening up about the experience and she'll tell her story just ahead we've unfortunately heard the tragic stories of a young athlete, a high school athlete, dying suddenly after a practice or a game because of an undetected heart problem. now a mother who actually lost her daughter to such a tragedy is trying to make a medical tool that could detect such a problem available and required by all -- for all student athletes. we'll talk to her coming up as well. also why it's not too late for baby boomers to turn a hobby into a full-time job. we'll give you advice on that. first let's go inside to ann. she's got a check of all the headlines. ann? >> thanks. good morning, everybody. we begin with more significant developments from egypt. today, president mubarak's government apologized for wednesday's attack on anti-government protesters in cairo's tahrir square. the united nations is evacuating hundreds of its personnel and families. and there were new clashes overnight. nbc's chief foreign correspondent richard engel is in cairo near tahrir square with more. good morning, richard. >> good morning, ann. the government apologized for those attacks but said it was not responsible. the protesters certainly do not believe that. a dramatic battle unfolded yesterday. there were thousands of protesters in tahrir square, demanding as they have been for days that president mubarak step down. suddenly in the early -- in the morning hours, they were rushed by thousands of what they describe as thugs, supporters of president hosni mubarak. they came in on horses, many of them were scareyicarrying stick knives. very intense, close combat broke out and carried out -- continued for the next 12 hours or so. the two sides were launching molotov cocktails and stones, bricks at each other. 800 people were wounded. then in the nighttime hours, there was a dramatic development. the protesters who at one stage were overwhelmed by the pro-mubarak supporters launched a counteroffensive. the protesters pushed forward and managed to send the mubarak supporters into retreat. at that stage, gunfire broke out. many people thought it was the pro-mubarak supporters who were firing down into the demonstrators. that triggered the army for the first time in this crisis to intervene in a way. the army sent a tank between the two sides and unleashed a smoke screen to try to separate the two groups. the army is still trying to keep them apart, but is mostly now returned to an observation role as those clashes continue in tahrir square this morning. >> all right. the story still developing. thank you so much, richard engel, for bringing it to us. also in the news, here at home, a break in the weather after that colossal winter storm pummeled states from texas to maine with snow and ice and powerful winds. this morning chicago's lakeshore drive was reopened after more than a foot and a half of snow forced drivers to abandon their cars. and in massachusetts, employees made a run for the door and managed to get out safely when the roof of their company collapsed from the weight of the snow. as for that massive cyclone in australia, well, today officials in northern queensland are assessing the damage. the storm slammed ashore on wednesday, ripping apart hundreds of homes and buildings and causing more flooding. in the already flood-ravaged region. amazingly, no one was killed. a federal judge has ruled that the administrator of the 0 $20 billion compensation fund for last year's gulf oil disaster is not independent from bp and must stop saying that he is. the judge says that kenneth feinberg must clearly state that he is disbursing payments on bp's behalf. 150 people who claimed they were sexually abused by catholic priests have settled a lawsuit with the diocese. the agreement provides them with money from a $77 million trust. new york city lawmakers have approved an ambitious outdoor smoking ban that will outlaw smoking in about 1,700 parks and 14 miles of public beaches and boardwalks as well as times square. the law goes into effect in 90 days. and one of the mysteries surrounding the mona lisa may have been solved. an italian expert says the subject of the painting was really a young man who worked with leonardo da vinci and was the inspiration behind much of da vinci's works. it is now 8:05. let's go outside for a check of the weather with al. that's a nice voice. i we're down below freezing here. watch out for patchy ice. we've had reports of multiple accidents. if it looks wet, it's actually ice. right now, temperatures are in the 20s throughout most of the region. 29 at reagan national. later today into the mid-30s, and these winds that are with us now will settle down. we'll have some clouds in and out. and then partly cloudy tonight, low 20s tomorrow morning. a high near 40 friday with increasing clouds late friday night after midnight, might get sleet and freezing rain, changing to rain saturday. might end as a little snow saturday late afternoon. >> and that's your latest weather. matt? >> al, thank you. when we come back a woman whose life was shattered when she found out that the love of her life was gay. we'll talk to her right after these messages. ♪ ♪ express yourself ♪ ♪ ♪ oh, do it ♪ oh, do it ♪ ♪ express yourself [ female announcer ] coffee's like life. it's better when you add your flavor. visit us on facebook to find out how you can get a free bottle of coffee-mate on february 4th. new aveeno positively radiant tinted moisturizers, with scientifically proven soy complex and natural minerals give you sheer coverage instantly, then go on, to even skin tone in four weeks. new aveeno tinted moisturizers. the monster was furious! rarrr! it's for laughing... [ laughs ] [ female announcer ] ...pretending... and the mouse went, "wha-wha-wha, why?" [ giggles ] [ female announcer ] ...seeing things differently... and then the boy bit the dragon! [ female announcer ] ...and for being with your favorite storyteller... [ grandpa ] i love you when you are quiet. [ female announcer ] ...even after he goes home to nevada. [ grandpa ] and i love you when you are loud! [ female announcer ] hallmark recordable storybooks. ♪ make your voice their valentine. that lets you eat six times a day? yeah, baby! try the slim-fast 3-2-1 plan. 3 snacks, 2 shakes or meal bars, and 1 balanced meal. slim fast. who has time to slim slowly? and 1 balanced meal. host: could switching to geico really save you 15% or more on car insurance? host: does it take two to tango? ♪ ♪ anncr: geico. 15 minutes could save you 15% or more on car insurance. seven years ago, i had this idea. to make baby food the way moms would. happybaby strives to make the best organic baby food. in a business like ours, personal connections are so important. we use our american express open gold card to further those connections. last year we took dozens of trips using membership rewards points to meet with the farmers that grow our sweet potatoes and merchants that sell our product. we've gone from being in 5 stores to 7,500. booming is using points to make connections that grow your business. with chili's new $6 lunch break combos. choose from a house salad or hot, tasty soup. then pair it with a massive texas toast half sandwich, like our delicious classic turkey or our gigantic new southwestern blt, smothered in cilantro lime mayo and jam-packed with three glorious slices of applewood smoked bacon. served with fries, that's big flavor for just 6 bucks! the $6 break for bold, weekdays at chili's. we are back at 8:10. imagine how you would feel if the love of your life turned out to be gay. in a moment we'll talk to one woman who had that happen to her. first, natalie morales has more. >> good morning. experts say it is actually happening more and more often, leaving many women confused. >> i'm gay. >> reporter: from the big screen -- >> i had what i guess you would call desires. i find that i'm attracted to men. >> reporter: to politics. >> i am a gay american. shamefully, i engaged in adult consensual affair with another man. >> reporter: a woman finding out the man she's in love with is gay is something we've seen played out before. it happened to kiri blakely, who thought she'd found the man she'd spend forever with. >> we enjoyed spending time together. everybody looked at us as the perfect couple. >> reporter: after ten years, kiri's faienciance said, we nee talk. >> i thought he was going to say i didn't clean out the cat litter box or something. he said, i'm confused about my sexuality. he said i'm having fantasies about men. it was the last thing i expected to hear. >> it's extremely difficult for a woman to reconcile this and come to terms with it. there aren't any striking red flags apart from catching him in the act. >> reporter: experts say at any given time, there are as many as 2 million mixed-orientation marriages. and a new cheating study from the university of texas shows only 22% of women say they could forgive their male partner's betrayal with another man. but if a woman cheats with another woman, over 50% of men say they would continue the relationship. >> women who cheat with other women, it's usually rooted more in an emotional relationship whereas men who cheat with men, it's almost purely based on something physical and sexual. >> reporter: kiri says having her fiance tell her he was gay was one thing, but finding out he cheated with another man was another. >> him having an affair hurt more than him deciding he was gay. emotionally, i still struggle with the idea that someone can lie to you and to themselves on a daily basis for so long. >> some mixed-orientation couples do stay together, but one study estimates that only 7% who try make it long-term. meredith? >> thank you, natalie. kiri blakely writes about her experience in "can't think straight." gail saltz is also here with us. you refer to your fiance as aaron. that's not his real name. we also offered him the opportunity to come on the show, give his side of the story. he declined. putting that out there. at the time of your relationship, you say you never had any idea that aaron was gay, but when you look back now in hindsight, can you see things that you didn't pick up then? >> there's a stereotype of how a gay man should look, act, and sound. and he fit none of that. none of that at all. so in that way, no. >> okay. >> he doesn't nit stereotype. the only thing is our sex life did dwindle over the course of the decade that we were together. it slowed down. but i saw that as a long-term relationship. i thought that was a normal thing that happens. i had other friends who were going through the same situation. so that was really the only clue, if you want to even call that a clue. >> yeah. gail, how often does this happen? apparently quite a bit. why would someone want to live a lie for that long? >> it often starts because they're lying to themselves. still today unfortunately, it's hard for people to come out. it's potentially a harder lifestyle. they feel people's disapproval. and it's internalized. they don't want to be gay. even though that's really what's going on. because there's really sort of a continuum, if you will, of sexuality, and you can have, you know, great attraction to a member of the same sex mostly but still somewhat be attracted to, you know, the opposite sex. it's not so black-and-white. it's not so defined. you can say to yourself, well, maybe this isn't so. i don't want it to be so, so i'm going to say it's not. people live secret lives of all kinds. this is one of them that usually leads to real depression, to betrayal, and a lot of hurt. >> do you think that you would have felt differently had he had an affair with a woman as opposed to a man? >> i tell everyone it's equal amount of devastation, but in different ways. so with a man or men, you don't get competitive like, oh, what does she have that i don't. you know what a man has that you don't. but in another way, i almost felt like i couldn't get as angry because i felt like i had to in some way support his choice or his decision even though he'd been cheating on me. so you almost are not able to be as angry as you would be if it was a woman. so that was kind of strange. >> maybe -- go ahead. >> i think women often in this situation feel very humiliated, you know? it's like why -- why did that happen? what does this mean about me? why did he pick me? and i think that leaves you very angry. you know, to be really shamed, leaves you very, very angry. and then what do you do with it? you can't fight for the guy to come back to you. so how do you, you know, how do you deal with that? >> you dealt with it by drinking a lot for a while? >> i sort of self-destructed for a while. >> sleeping with a lot of guys you write in your book. >> it depends on your definition of a lot. but, yeah, i went a little crazy because i think i had a psychotic break with reality. when the reality that you know for so long turns out to be not the reality that you thought, it's almost like you -- you just -- i just had a psychotic break. i didn't know how to be alone anymore. so for me to sit in my apartment for a couple of hours and watch tv was in possible. i would have to go out to a bar, you know? and just be around people and drink and -- yeah. >> and this isn't only about sexuality. this was about fidelity as well. >> correct. >> that's the issue. when he told his friends, a lot of people said, well, thank goodness you could come out. they weren't even angry that he cheated. >> this is not living a life of integrity. it's not being true to yourself. it's not being true to a commitment that you made. that's really the bigger issue. frankly, had he come to you -- it would have been painful, but had he said, i'm gay, we're not going to be able to stay together, i have to leave and then gotten into a relationship, it would have had a very different feeling. the betrayal is a big part of the problem. >> thank you for sharing your story. >> thanks for having me. >> gail, thanks. the book is called "can't think straight." we'll be back right after this. so which one tasted better? [ shark 1 ] uh, steve. [ shark 2 ] yeah, the guy. with steve i tasted peanut butter and uh snickers. [shark 3] yeah, that's it! steve had just eaten snickers peanut butter squared. ohhhhh! steve was delicious. [ male announcer ] if you like peanut butter and chocolate, you'll love peanut butter and snickers. try new snickers peanut butter squared. you'll love peanut butter and snickers. ♪ i was diagnosed with copd. i could not take a deep breath i noticed i was having trouble. climbing the stairs, working in the garden, painting. my doctor suggested spiriva right then. announcer: spiriva is the only once-daily inhaled maintenance treatment for copd, which includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema. i love what it does. it opens up the airways. announcer: spiriva does not replace fast-acting inhalers for sudden symptoms. stop taking spiriva and call your doctor right away if your breathing suddenly worsens, your throat or tongue swells, you get hives, have vision changes or eye pain, or have problems passing urine. tell your doctor if you have glaucoma, problems passing urine, or an enlarged prostate, as these may worsen with spiriva. also, discuss the medicines you take, even eye drops. side effects include dry mouth, constipation, and trouble passing urine. it makes me breathe easier. i can't do everything i used to do. but there's a lot i can do that i was struggling with. announcer: ask your doctor if once-daily spiriva is right for you. [ male announcer ] it's morning... and quaker loves morning. ♪ because when you start your day with the power of oatmeal it's good for your heart. it gives you energy. and it can turn an ordinary day into an extraordinary day. ♪ quaker oatmeal is more than breakfast. it's a superfood. quaker oatmeal is more than breakfast. [thunder crashes] - i'm right here. and i always will be. - now you can surround her with the strength of love's embrace, at kay jewelers, one more reason kay is the number one jewelry store in america. can getting enough vegetables make you feel good? oh, yeah. v8 juice gives you 3 of your 5 daily servings of vegetables. v8. what's your number? and this morning on "today's" healthy heart, the search for heart defects. when a young athlete dies from cardiac arrest, it's a tragedy. it's also frustrating for loved ones understanding how a child who was so healthy could be taken away so quickly. >> on august 21st, 2008, my daughter, jenny, seemingly perfectly healthy, 17-year-old, had a sudden cardiac arrest on the soccer field. >> reporter: michelle snyder learned afterwards that her daughter was born with a structural heart defect, something neither she nor yenny's doctors ever picked up on. >> jenny absolutely did not have one symptom of sudden cardiac arrest or heart issues. >> reporter: now she advocates screening all student athletes with electrocard yelectrocardio. in michigan, beaumont hospital offers on-site ekgs and screenings for student athletes free of charge. >> those wavy things are your valves. they look beautiful. >> reporter: but the vast majority of schools and youth organizations across the country do not require kids undergo this level of screening before participating in organized sports. >> it's not done because it's not cost-efficient. unfortunately, we live in a time when things have to be cost-efficient. >> reporter: guidelines suggest a physical exam including personal and family history. in a statement, they said we do not currently feel that current scientific evidence supports the universal use of tests in the context of mass screening of children involved in athletic activities. >> no chest pain problems? >> reporter: the program has screened over 5,000 students. 30 were asked to stop sports immediately and follow up with a cardiologist. one student was found to have a potentially fatal heart disorder. >> we're pleased that we've been able to change the course of lives of a handful of kids. >> reporter: it's that kind of outcome, the result of ekg screenings, that michelle snyder would like to see more of. >> would it have savored jenny's life? i don't know. but it does save lives. to have that tool available and not use it when it's killing our children is crazy. >> doctor, good to see you. >> nice to see you. >> some people might be watching this thinking this is a no-brainer. why wouldn't be test kwe test k? is it all about money? >> it's not as simple as it may appear. money is certainly an issue. we're talking about two to five million athletes a year getting an ekg. that's a cost of billions of dollars. that's not just the issue. the people at the american heart association, they're human beings, they have kids and they feel for these families. when you talk about a mass screening program, you want to make sure the benefit is really clearly there. they don't feel that the scientific evidence is sufficient. >> so do you think it is sufficient to go with the current course of action, which is this basic, you know, personal history and family history examination with the questions that are routinely asked? >> well, i think that's essential. you really need to talk to your doctor about personal history of, you know, chest pain or fatigue, family history of heart disease in the family before 50. that's a baseline. you need to talk to your children. very often teenagers don't want to report symptoms like this. is it sufficient? well, there is a down side to an ekg that may not be properly interpreted. it may lead to many other diagnostic tests or procedures. >> but if during an interview and a personal history evaluation and family history evaluation a red flag is raised, then you would follow up with an ekg. >> absolutely, absolutely. we're also -- definitely recommending to follow up on even one yes answer to one of those questions, should prompt a cardiology evaluation. >> we talked about money before. if you feel as if you want your child tested with an ekg, whether it's required or not, what type of cost are we talking about per test? >> there's a range, about -- between $100 and $300. you want to make sure it is correctly interpreted. the other thing to remember, ekgs are not, you know, in fallible. you may have a normal ekg and then have an event. it's not a perfect test. but the bottom line is we need a lot more evidence and parent watch groups, you know, are really supporting the increase of studies on this topic. >> all right. doctor, thanks very much. i appreciate it. just ahead, how to turn your hobby into a money-making business. but first, your local news. 8:26 is your time now. 28 degrees. a pretty sky, but frigidly cold out there. tom will have your forecast right after the news. good morning. i'm eun yang. black ice is a big problem on the roads this morning. a prince george's county police officer found that out when his cruiser hit a patch of ice and slammed into a utility pole. this happened on piscataway road near steed road in the clinton area. the officer is in the hospital right now but is expected to be okay. we'll take a quick break now. your weather and traffic are up good morning. still below freezing. we're in the 20s, so watch out for that ice this morning. we'll get above freezing, but not until late this morning into the afternoon, peaking in the mid-30s, high clouds in and out and the winds with us now will settle down. tomorrow, near 40, maybe a wintry mix saturday. traffic? >> tough on i-95 this morning, tom. had the accident 395 at duke street in the hov lanes. it's out of the roadway, but all lanes jammed up from at least the occoquan. downtown still traffic light problems south capitol street at i street. all the roads in southeast are crawling. eun? tonight on "news 4 at 5:00" -- jerry, thank you -- millions of americans get it in the mail. it looks l drink in the rich, bold taste... of premium roast coffee -- 100% arabica beans. it's so rich, but so just a dollar. on the dollar menu at breakfast. and that's what we'rma of. ♪ ba da ba ba ba my sistersundays are just tofor watching football. believe that? [ thinking ] relax. you ordered off mcdonald's dollar menu at breakfast. everything's so good and just a buck. so go. he's a jerk. [ thinking ] the simple joy of being smart. ♪ 8:30 now on a thursday morning. it's the third day of february, 2011. kind of a chilly start to that day here in new york city. 27 degrees. a lot of young people are enthusiastic, if not shivering. this is about as high as it's going to get today. not going to get a lot warmer than this. >> at least it's sunny. >> yes. it's a beautiful, sunny day. i'm matt lauer along with meredith vieira and ann curry. we're going to talk about following your passion. >> yeah. if you've had a hobby and you want to turn it into a career, it's not too late. what you need to do to turn your love into a job. a business really. >> into a business. and make a lot of money hopefully. that's a good thing also, if you want to get away, who doesn't want to get away? we've got good ideas for cheap hotel rates. places where you get great deals if you want to get the heck out of dodge cheap. inexpensive. also, happy new year. >> yes. happy year of the rabbit. >> the year of the rabbit. martin yen is going to be here this morning, one of our favorite guys. she going to celebrate with us. >> i just want to make sure what he's doing there. >> what? what? >> he's so much fun. he's such a great cook. >> he's making a shrimp and chicken dish. a lot of symbolism around him. that red shirt, not by accident. no. >> really? >> prosperity and good health. good morning. still below freezing, so watch out for that patchy ice. we will get above freezing, though, by late morning. and during the afternoon, we'll peak in the mid-30s. and this blustery cold wind we have now should settle down later. tonight, down into the 20s. by dawn friday, increasing clouds tomorrow with a high near 40. midnight friday night, might get sleet and freezing rain, changing to rain during the day saturday and the precipitation may end as a little light snow saturday afternoon. sunday, partly sunny, into the low 40s. might get snow showers next tuesday. >> as we head into the weekend, you want to check on your weather, go to the weather channel on cable or weather.com online. matt? >> we hope to see you right back here tomorrow. good luck flying out. when we come back, we're going to talk about if you're over 50 and looking for a fresh start, how to turn your hobby into a new career. that's right after this. honey bunches of oats. whoa...with cinnamon! it's got warm, freshly baked cinnamon in one delicious heart healthy cereal. mmmm. can't you just taste it? try honey bunches of oats with cinnamon. heck, try 'em all. and enjoying it less and less? stop paying for second best. upgrade to verizon fios and get tv, internet and phone for just $99.99 a month for a year. you'll get a multi-room dvr free for 12 months. record shows ione room and watch them in up to six other rooms. call now. offer ends soon. there's no term contract required. you cacancel anytime with no early terminatiofee. fios is a 100% fiber-optic network that delivers superior picture quality, more hd; plus the fastest internet in the u.s. why keep paying for cable? get fios tv, internet and phone for just $99.99 a month -- plus a multi-room dvr free for 12 months. don't wait. this incredible offer ends soon. call 1.866.680.fios. call the verizon center for customers with disabilities that's 1.866.680.3467. at 800-974-6006 tty/v. get the network that delivers more. get fios. a network ahead. ♪ we are back at 8:36. this morning on "50: living it, loving it," turning your hobby into a business. it's never too late to follow a passion and make it a career. getting started may be easier than you think. carol barron is a stay-at-home mom who loves baking her signature sweet. lisa byer is a stay-at-home mom with a flare for decorating. and here with advice is doug hirshhorn. good morning to you all. doug doug, if i can start with you, boy, baby boomers and those who are older make up 54% of the self-employed. women account for 50% to 60% of new start-ups. twice as many women starting upbles up businesses as men. those numbers are encouraging. >> right. they're compelling. what i think is very important to realize is i believe women are actually hard-wired to be more successful in business. >> why? >> i think they have a better intuition internally. they're much more reflective about communication, about themselves, seflf-awareness. >> these two ladies, carol and lisa are both passionate about their hobbies, want to get started, but it is intimidating. >> yes. the one thing that holds them back, and this is very common, fear. period. fear is what holds people back from making very, very important decisions and very compelling changes in their lives. >> let me start with carol. you're known around town to your friends, the mondale bread queen. it's your grandmother's secret recipe that you've adopted. everybody says you should go into business. but you haven't. what is holding you back? >> i think like doug said, the biggest thing is just having a fear of rejection. it's the biggest thing. the second thing is -- is being overwhelmed, being burdened with time and going into something by myself. and i think turning something that i've been so passionate about into a burden. and i -- >> when you have to do it, it's not going to be as much fun. >> and doing it alone has always scared me a little bit. and i just -- it's been something that's so fun for me. and all my friends and family have enjoyed. i'm just afraid i'll grow to hate it. >> let's address her concerns, doug. >> the first one, the fear of rejection, we're parents and we have children. if your child wanted to take a risk or do something, you would look your child in the eyes and say, that's not a good enough reason to not make your mark. we need to live by the same standard ourselves. it's very normal to have that experience, but don't let it get in your way. when we talk about dealing with fear, compartmentalizing it, putting it to the side. you talk about waiting for that kind of perfect moment in time to find the partner to help take off the responsibility and grow the business. there's never a perfect time for these things. you have a product you believe in, you're passionet at and yout to bring it to the next level. >> she says that if she loves is going to turn into something that's just a chore. >> it will. however, if you're passionate enough about this product and you believe in it enough, anybody will tell you that if they're doing what they love, it's not work anymore. it's about the product and the journey and the process. >> you also said that you were concerned because this is a jewish cookie. well, people won't want it because of that, because it's just one niche. i think that's a plus. i think it's great. >> uniqueness is remarkable. it's a cookie. you don't have to make everyone love that cookie. people are not going to like it. but you need to find a specific group of people that love it and they'll spread the word. >> lisa, you have two young children. but you often go with your friends because they love your decorating tips. your husband has been on you saying, get some money for this. you're good at what you do. what's held you back? >> i think probably primarily it's -- i'm afraid that i'm not as good as i think i am. there are really very talented people out there. i know i have tremendous talent, but there are a lot of people out there who have as much talent, if not more, than i do. >> fair enough. there are tens of thousands of interior design decorators out there, but find a way to differentiate yourself. maybe you specialize in interior design for college dorm rooms. find a niche for yourself and you'll differentiate yourself. >> there's always room for one more person. >> yes, there is. especially if you differentiate yourself. >> anything you'd like to ask doug at this point? >> how do you make yourself unique? how do you -- how do you make yourself just not another bag of cookies on the shelf? >> you keep the name mondale bread. you start a blog. the industry that we have now, blogging is free and it's all about starting from a small point. talk about baking it. it's a great story about your grandmother's recipe. i read this and knew i was fantastic. let people hear your story. >> all right. carol, get started. we want those. lisa, you, too. get money for that decorating. doug, thank you so much. up next, chef martin yan helping us ring in the chinese nuyear. we're back at 8:43. this morning on "today's kitchen" we're going back to basics for the chinese new year. it's the year of the rabbit. according to martin yan, it will be filled with prosperity and fun. martin, always nice to see you. happy new year. >> i wish you prosperity and good luck. you know, very, very common practice, during chinese new year, the first day, they always put money -- a lot of money in -- >> what's a lot? >> this is a lot of money. don't show anybody. it's a secret. >> that's a lot of money to you? okay. >> it's symbolic. >> but you give it to children, right? >> particularly for children. you have three children. we'll give one to you. we wish you good luck, too. so you have one of these. >> thank you. >> we wish you good luck. >> that's $4. >> $4. >> okay. thank you for that. >> actually, chinese nuyeew yeaa lot of symbolic food. this is a tangerine. you always bring this along to give to your friends. this means abundance. that means i wish you all good luck, abundance of good luck, good fortune and good health. >> you're going to mix called phoenix and the dragon, right? >> yes. phoenix, this is, of course, the chicken, the phoenix. the dragon. during chinese new year, you do not use theyour knife? >> okay. >> we're not doing the knife. >> actually, in a traditional chinese household, you'd cut the ingredients the day before. >> right. now we can cook. it's already cut up because we've observed the tradition, okay? >> uh-huh. >> all you have to do is heat up your frying pan, a little bit of oil right here. low oil, low salt. marinate a tiny bit of meat with corn starch. put the corn starch here and here. and then stir this a little bit. >> thank you. >> and then, of course, use beer rather than wine. >> why? >> because it it's more light and fluffy. it gives a little bitterness to it. it's very good. >> stir both of those up. i just cross-contaminated. >> don't worry. and then look at this. you stir. a little garlic and ginger. garlic and ginger. look at this. garlic and ginger. stir, stir. stir, stir. >> oh, i'm sorry. i thought you were just talking. i'm sorry. i wasn't paying attention. >> no, stir. >> you're going to cook the chicken until it's a little on the white side. >> yes. and then stir. and then the shrimp. look at this. >> okay. what kind of vegetables have you got there? >> when it's almost ready, you put in some soy sauce. >> you do it. >> put a little bit of sesame seed oil. >> uh-huh. >> oh! look at this. look at this. it's beautiful. and then -- >> it smells good. >> and then snow pea. colorful vegetables, very important. >> vegetables are good because it's healthy, good way to start the new year. >> yes. it doesn't take too long to cook. and then you just shake it. shake, shake, shake. look at that. it doesn't take too long to cook. when it's almost ready, stir. continue to stir. ah, look at this. >> the whole thing cooks like two minutes. >> yes. when it's done, just -- let's hold on to this. we'll serve this. this is phoenix and dragon. >> what is this? >> this is spring roll wrappers shaped like a lotus. look how beautiful. look at that. >> very pretty. >> this is beautiful. >> let's take this back with hind us here. i want to show people what else you've done. >> a whole bunch of stuff. >> come back here. also, whole fish, very important. why? >> because whole fish is a symbol of abundance. so you always, always serve with beer. >> okay. that's okay. we like that. around here, that's very popular. dumplings are also very traditional on the new year. they're like little wrapped-up gifts. >> a little gift, a little purse, a lot of treasure inside. and, of course, a vegetarian dish is always served, okay? always, always served. and let me -- >> just turn that burner down there for a second. >> normally when you finish cooking, you just remove it. and get rid of these. and that's it. >> that way you don't smoke out the whole room. what sign were you born under? >> the year of the snake. >> meredith is the year of the snake also. >> here is beer. happy new year. >> happy new year. >> cheers, martin. coming up, we'll have the secrets to getter great rates on a hotel room. but first, happy new year and this is "today" on nbc. this morning on our special series "the grio's 100 history-makers in the making" a swimmer who is spreading his love of the pool. today amy has his story. >> good morning. colin jones won his gold at the beijing olympics back in 2008, but that accomplishment was not an easy'. >> they got to get out there. they're way ahead. >> reporter: for swimmer colin jones, winning a gold medal in the 2008 olympics was a dream come true. >> unbelievable at the end! the u.s. has done it! >> just a rush of feelings. it was such a long road of ups and downs. to be able to sit back and look at something that kind of was the epitome of why i did it was -- it's just amazing. >> reporter: amazing not only because he was just the second african-american to take home a gold in the sport, but also because it was a near-death experience that got him interested in swimming in the first place. in 1989 when colin was 5, he was visiting a pennsylvania water park with his family when an intertube that he was on top of flipped. let's go back to that day in 1989, the day that changed everything. what happened at the water park? >> i fly down this ride. what you're supposed to do is hit the pool of water at the bottom kind of gently coast to the shallow end. well, i wasn't heavy enough. i flipped upside down. >> reporter: struggling to keep his head above water, he feared for his life. >> i remember just blacking out. i just saw nothing but blue and then blacking out. it was definitely the scariest thing i'd ever endured. i did not know how to swim. >> reporter: colin's mother, deborah, who didn't know how to swim, knew her son was in trouble. >> i heard him yell. he was yelling all the way down. and then all of a sudden i heard a scream cut off. >> reporter: a lifeguard performed mouth-to-mouth resusination on colin and saved his life. deborah enrolled colin in swim classes three days later. >> when i came home, it was like, okay. i didn't want to have the apprehension that, you know, at some point in time that this child might drown. >> my mom went against the trend of what we see especially in black culture of pulls their kids away from the water because of an instance where, you know, there was a drowning incident. i almost drowned. my mom got me into swim lessons. she wanted to give me the tools. >> reporter: black children are three times more likely to die from drowning than white children, something that motivated callen to become a part of the make a splash initiative. >> it's cultural. we have been kind of beaten into our heads that black people don't swim. >> ready, set, go! >> reporter: and oftentimes it's fear that prevents kids from getting the proper instruction. >> there is a cure. it's swim lessons. and that's what make a splash is really trying to push and trying to change in the fight against drowning. >> reporter: why is it important to you as a parent to have your children in swim classes? >> just watching them swim really makes me very happy. i wish i had the opportunity growing up to learn at an early age. >> i think it's amazing with what colin has done for the sport and the african-american community. >> it felt good. i really like the way he taught me how to swim and all of those things. >> how would you rate colin as a coach? >> he's an awesome coach. >> he's a really great coach. >> reporter: a really great coach who is making a difference in his community and hoping that his legacy will not only be as an olympic gold medalist but also as a mentor to countless children who will be living safer lives. >> here you go. >> thank you. >> good job today. >> and as colin travels the country, he's also training for the 2012 olympics in london. so he's quite busy, but it's amazing he can find the time to do that. he's having such an impact on so many children. >> great story. >> let's dring in david wilson with thegrio.com. >> thanks for having me. >> this list of 100 history-makers in the making, how do you come up with it? >> we scoured the country and said, who is making a huge impact? not just within their community, but for the country. what you see with colin, he's impacting so many young kids and inspiring so many young kids to learn how to swim and get involved in sports. we look at that and the huge impact. >> i imagine there are heated arguments here. it's very objective. you must be angry at some people you have to leave off the list. >> we had a list of 600 people at first. we had to dwindle it down to 100. you know, it gets contentious. some people -- we're still not speakli speaking, some people. >> but you have the final word. >> it is a real effort to look towards the future, which is a really key element. you are also trying to factor in different things like you wanted to be coast-to-coast. what are the criteria? >> again, you know, people were having a huge impact that the entire country can relate to. it's not just people doing great things within their community, but, you know, they're solving problems in health care, education, health. so we look at all of those elements. you know, it's -- people -- all of them have inspiring stories. when you go on the site and you see all 100 names, you click on each one of them and you're just moved. >> can you name a few of the others? >> sajari brit, a 9-year-old cellist who played for the first lady and president obama. >> michelle obama is on there, too. >> michelle obama because of what she's doing with the let's move campaign and obesitobesity. we have a grammy award winning song-writer and producer, a producer for your friend, kanye west. >> and the list goes on and on. >> we're going to leave that right there. we'll leave that alone. thank you so much. 8:55 is your time now, 28 degrees. beautiful blue skies out there, but it is cold. tom will have details on your forecast right after the news. good morning. i'm eun yang. in the news at this hour, maryland governor martin o'malley will take on pepco today. he and other lawmakers will propose emergency legislation establishing standards for utility companies. it would require service quality and reliability standards to be implemented by july 2012. today, virginia leaders are expected to announce that the state will no longer build high-occupancy toll or hot lanes on a six-mile stretch of i-395 inside the beltway. arlington county had been battling with the state and even filed a lawsuit to prevent these lanes from being built. we'll take a quick break now. your weath [ male announcer ] are you paying more and more for cable and enjoying it less and less? stop paying for second best. upgrade to verizon fios and get tv, internet and phone for just $99.99 a month for a year. you'll get a multi-room dvr free for 12 months. record shows ione room and watch them in up to six other rooms. call now. offer ends soon. there's no term contract required. you cacancel anytime with no early terminatiofee. fios is a 100% fiber-optic network that delivers superior picture quality, more hd; plus the fastest internet in the u.s. why keep paying for cable? get fios tv, internet and phone for just $99.99 a month -- plus a multi-room dvr free for 12 months. don't wait. this incredible offer ends soon. call 1.866.680.fios. call the verizon center for customers with disabilities that's 1.866.680.3467. at 800-974-6006 tty/v. get the network that delivers more. get fios. a network ahead. that's why i got them pillsbury toaster strudel. warm flaky pastry with delicious sweet filling my kids will love. plus i get two boxtops fotheir school. toaster strudel. the one kids want to eat. and these are the ones you'll love on a friday. pillsbury crescent pizza pockets. with just a few ingredients, you have an easy to make dinner. they're crescents for the other 364. try them tonight. good morning. here's your four-day forecast. breezy and cold today, highs mid-30s and tomorrow up near 40, increasing clouds. might get a little sleet and freezing rain after midnight friday night into saturday morning, changing to rain during the day saturday, maybe ending as a little wet snow. jerry, how's traffic? fire and rescue crews arriving on the scene of an accident. live pictures of benning road and minnesota avenue right now. possibly due to ice. authorities are on the scene, so be very, very careful. interstatewise, the beltway still jammed. had some ice problems at the exit from the capital beltway on to route 50. continuing delays coming up from springfield. eun? >> jerry, thank you. tonight on news 4, millions of americans get it in the mail. it looks like a we are back with more of "today" on a thursday morning, february 3rd, 2011. you're looking at our buddy, al roker, standing along the frozen sidewalks of chicago, illinois, ere he's been for the last three days after that city was rocked by this major winter storm, about two feet of snow. al looking for anyone to take him to the airport right now. >> they need to put a statue in his honor right there. >> if he stands out there any longer, he'll be a statue. ahead, heavy gunfire, molotov cocktails, brutal altercations. five people have died. more than 830 injured. we understand the violence heating up again even as we speak in advance of what's expected to be a very interesting day tomorrow. the unofficial deadline that some of those protesters have set for the removal of hosni mubarak. we'll have a report from cairo in a moment. plus, a very disturbing story about the sex trade in america. it's a much more widespread problem than you may know about. during the super bowl weekend, thousands of underage girls will be trafficked in and around dallas to service the sex trade there. this morning we'll have the story of young women from a small town in central america, promised a better life in the u.s. only to be raped and forced to be sex slaves in texas. on a much different note, we'll tell you how to get a great deal on your hotel room next time you decide to travel out of town. here at home a blast of arctic air is adding to what is already misery caused by the storm that dumped a dangerous mix of snow and ice from texas to maine. al is in chicago with the latest. al, good morning to you. >> good morning, matt. let me tell you, it's 0 right now. a windchill of 10 below. of course, chicago getting a record amount of snow. it's the third biggest snowfall they've had in 24 hours. what you can see, michigan avenue moving pretty well. people moving back and forth. chicagoans, a hearty bunch. lakeshore drive has reopened. that's the good news after getting all of tholse cars off, it's plowed and movinmoving. this snowfall was one of historic proportions. this time, the storm lived up to the hype as snow, ice and freezing temperatures gripped much of the country. >> in a storm of this magnitude, there is no way to predict from minute to minute frut problems may arise. >> reporter: chicago reported its third biggest storm ever with over 20 inches of snow and winds that exceeded 60 miles per hour at times. whiteouts stopped the evening rush hour in its tracks, leaving lakeshore drive a snow-covered parking lot. outside boston, the accumulation of heavy snow caved in the roof of an office building. and on interstate 93 in new hampshire, a chain reaction accident forced one car to literally take a nose dive. the storm also halted air travel, leaving some with tickets to sunday's big game delayed. >> change their flight. we're going through minneapolis and we're coming home with the lombardi trophy, baby! >> reporter: fans could find dallas still reeling from an icy superstorm as temperatures continue to plummet. for much of the country, it's an icy mess. throughout indiana, crews are dealing with downed power lines. the roads are slick as well. a news van from channel 5 in cincinnati skidded into a country ditch and had to be towed. as street crews and homeowners began to dig out, fatigue and frustration set in. >> if you got nothing to do, stay home. >> i think it's pretty, but my husband owes me a larger snow blower. >> reporter: but others took it in stride. and welcomed the midweek day off. >> i think it's great. it's nice to have a snow day. >> and, of course, the backside of this storm, the ugly side, the bitterly cold temperatures. look at these windchills. we've got windchill advisories stretching from texas all the way into the ohio river valley and new england. it is going to be a mess. we are talking about windchills right now that are 20 to 30 to 40 degrees below zero. i mean, it is brutal. and afternoon air temperatures warm up a bit, but it's still dangerously cold throughout about a third of the country. back here, we are expecting chicago's o'hare and midway airports to finally open up and start getting flights out sometime in the next couple of hours. that's the good news. 14,000, almost 15,000 flights were canceled yesterday nationwide. and even down as far as southern texas, they have rolling blackouts because of the strain the power grids are going through because of downed power lines from that ice storm. matt? >> all right, al. hopefully you will get out this afternoon. thanks for your reporting. let us get a check of the rest of the morning's top stories with ann. >> thanks a lot. we begin this morning with the violence that's erupting again overnight in cairo's tahrir square between government supporters and protesters demanding that president hosni mubarak leave office. this morning mubarak's government apologized for the attacks which have left five people dead 800 people wounded. lester holt is joining us by telephone from cairo. what more can you add to this? >> we're coming to you by phone was sufficed to say, the -- there are some who want to limit the flow of information here. we're kind of on the move here. but we want to tell you it's another day of violent clashes in the center of cairo. and keep in mind, this has now spilled out into the adjacent streets. it's no longer just a battle for the square, although that's a si symbolic area. we heard another round of several shots here just a few minutes ago. the death toll now is over 605 people confirmed dead. there were many fires throughout the night. molotov cocktails were thrown late into the night. some thrown from buildings, thrown at people. rocks, bottles. and people continued to -- it's stunning to watch this happening. people are still pouring in to the area. there's no effort to even block off bridges, access points as you might see in other situations. they're allowing people to come in to this area and they're agitated because both sides have ramped up the level of this. as you noted, the government has -- here has apologized for the violence yesterday. the prime minister saying that there will be an investigation. but there is no sign right now of theorm army trying to put t down. it's a violent free-for-all right now in cairo. >> there are five people who have been killed, more than 830 wounded. that's what we're hearing here. what do you know from there? what do you know about what might be happening later today that might cause perhaps, we hope not, any more violence? >> well, you know, the flow of information -- you'll hear these rumors about -- this group is about to reenforce and that group. as i speak, i'm watching a new mob that just formed since the time we've been on the air moving now away from the area. but, you know, you keep hearing rumors, each side wants to reenforce their numbers. the anti-government forces held their ground. and then the tides changed this morning. it seems like it's very difficult to tell who's in charge. >> it sounds like, lester, that things are very much up in the air. it's hard to predict what's happening. yesterday we've been hearing about journalists being targeted. is that still the case today? is there still a concern? you were just talking about not being able to go live wbut rathr by telephone. what can you tell us about journalists being targeted today? >> it's real. yesterday it happened in the middle of the attack. i ventured down the street this morning at what i thought would be a quiet time and we couldn't stay out long, even with the cell phone cameras and a small consumer camera. we gained attention. we were heckled. we wisely got off the street. very difficult to operate with any kind of video device. i had a personal video device that has been confiscated. it's -- it's very, very difficult to operate. but we do the best to tell the story. >> you're doing a good job, the entire team there on behalf of nbc news. stay safe and thank you for your report. >> you bet. also in the news today, australian officials are amazed that there have been no reports of deaths or serious injuries after the cyclone yasi tore through queensland. yasi was the worst storm the region has ever seen sustaining winds near 200 miles per hour and destroying or damaging hundreds of homes. president obama held a prayer breakfast this morning with 2,700 guests from 130 nations. among them, astronaut mark kelly, the husband of gabrielle giffords who is recovering after being shot in the head after a tucson shooting rampage. it's one of the most significant archeological finds in years. it all started with a police chase, a pursuit of a gang of grave robbers led israeli authorities to a nearly 1,500-year-old church in jerusalem that is believed to be the burial place of the profit zachariah. the robbers got away, but authorities noticed an elaborate door post poking through the earth and that led them to a site that was complete with the most magnificent mosaics intact. isn't that something? this keeps viewers in the dark. we're talking about nepal television, which is delivering the news by lantern light to highlight an energy crisis. nepal is one of the poorest in the world and energy shortages have left many people without power for up to 12 hours a day. the station is hoping its newscasts will good morning. some high clouds, still below freezing throughout much of the region, so still watch out for patchy ice, and the winds are still blustery out of the north and west, and temperatures right now in the 20s. we'll climb into the low to mid-30s by mid-afternoon, and then tonight down into the 20s again. high near 40 tomorrow with increasing clouds. after midnight friday night, might get a little bit of sleet and freezing rain, changing to rain for much of saturday. then may end as a brief period of some wet snow late saturday afternoon. partly sunny sunday, high low 40s. >> and that's your latest weather. ann? ♪ al, thanks. this morning on "today's travel," how to get the cheapest hotel rate. you don't have to pay full price for a great hotel room anymore. that's according to consumer reports senior editor todd marks. he's a man with a plan to help you save big. todd, good morning. >> good morning. >> happy to see you given the topic we're talking about. how do hotels set their rates? >> well, they use this intricate system called yield management. they track supply and demand. it's done in realtime. meaning that, you know, you'll know exactly months, weeks, days out how much anticipated demand is going to be there and what the supply is. the rates are adjusted accordingly. if you've got a big convention coming to town, rates are going to go up. if a convention drops out, it's going to go down. it changes all the time, like airline tickets. >> you say -- you've got some surprising tips. number one, start haggling. >> yeah. americans as a culture, we don't haggle. 35% of people we surveyed who try to haggle, 80% of them were successful. only 35% tried. 80% were successful at negotiating a room upgrade or a lower rate. >> it's easier to haggle if you know the lingo. >> if you know the lingo. what are you talking about when it comes to rates? well, there's the corporate rate. people don't know, but everyone is entitled to a corporate rate. you don't have to be on business. that's typically the lowest rate. however, that's not necessarily the best available rate. the best available rate is typically the lowest non-refundable rate with no strings attached. so you've got to know what to ask for. but then there can be lower rates. any limited-time specials or promotions that can add free parking, free breakfast and other perks. >> you need to know to ask for these things for the lowest or cheapest rates. you can start to ask for other things in addition. >> you have to be proactive. there's no way that the hotel is going to come out and tell you, here, we've got this special today unless you push the issue. i try to book a room in philadelphia five different ways. the best rate at one point was 209. by the time i tried five different methodologiemethodolo down to 134 plus free parking. but i had to keep asking. >> the other thing you recommend is to really be loyal. if you go back to a hotel over and over again, they'll maybe even voler tear some of these deals. >> sure. these loyalty programs -- like the supermarket bonus programs. you build up points. it's the same way with hotels. they are -- remember, hotels are coming off their worst year ever in this terrible economy. so what they've done, they're giving out perks like free amazon gift cards, get a third day free, get a free resort fee. all of these extras. if you're a local member, you'll get things like late check-in, late departure. kind of things that make it easier for you in an era when so many more fees are being attached to everything. >> todd, thank you so much. you also recommend using social networking sites and also reading online reviews. thank you so much. >> my pleasure. coming up next, we're going to talk about a very tough story. to talk[ female announcer ] splenda® no calorie sweetener is sweet... and more. if you replace 3 tablespoons of sugar a day with splenda® you'll save 100 calories a day. that could help you lose up to 10 pounds in a year. that's how splenda® is sweet...and more. my bliss? lips that feel soft, smooth, kissable. my blistex? silk and shine. real silk extracts. with a touch of shine. discover bliss. discover blistex. ♪ ♪ good morning ♪ good morning ♪ we've talked the whole night through ♪ ♪ good morning [ male announcer ] there are sixteen fresh-picked oranges squeezed into each carton of tropicana pure premium... ♪ good morning ♪ it's great to stay up late ♪ good morning, good morning [ male announcer ] ...and absolutely no space for added sugar, water or preservatives. tropicana -- we put the good in morning. ♪ now the milkman's on his way so i mix together a packet of hidden valley ranch, 1 box of spinach, and 16 ounces of sour cream, and tonight everyone gets a taste of something special... ranch spinach dip. [ male announcer ] hidden valley ranch. mix it up. on super bowl weekend, the big game is also big business for the sex trade. thousands of underage girls will be trafficked to dallas specifically in town for the festivities. for an msnbc documentary "sex slaves "we recently went there to investigate the stories of missing girls from latin america who end up being held as slaves here in the u.s. >> i had big dreams. >> reporter: they are teenage girls who came to texas with great hope. >> i dreamed of buying a house for my mom. >> reporter: but dreams of supporting loved ones back home became a nightmare of being trapped in a life of daily rape and beatings. >> you have people's daughters being raped in bars under threat of force. >> reporter: the story behind sex slavery begins in a small latin american village with young girls with big dreams. in january 2003, wendy and her friends, 16-year-old suheli and 14-year-old anna, were eating lunch at their school in a remote village in honduras. they were approached by two well-dressed businessmen. to wendy and her friends, being recruited was like winning the lottery. >> at that moment, i became very happy. they said they would pay us $150 a day and that they wanted to help people from our country with jobs in their factory up north. >> they promise them legitimate jobs, either cleaning jobs or simply being bartenders or serving drinks or working in a restaurant. and suddenly when they arrive, they -- they begin to realize that they're trapped. >> reporter: the horror started the next morning. they began with anna. >> they grabbed my youngest friend and began having their way with her. afterwards they did the same to my other friend. then an older man who was about 65 years old started with me. he said he was going to show me how to be a woman. but i don't know what that means, i said. i'm going to show you, he said. he took off all my clothes and began raping me. >> reporter: from that day forward, wendy was raped, tortured and moved from brothel to brothel. often working alongside 15 other enslaved girls. each servicing six to seven men a night. >> i've seen people treat livestock better than these people treat their girls. >> reporter: look closely on the outskirts of houston, and lining the streets near the port you will find an abundance of unassuming bars known as cantinas. most look like regular nightclubs, offering little more than loud music and cold beer. but those that know will tell you that behind this public facade are hidden passageways and tiny rooms where girls, many of them from latin america, are forced to be sex slaves, trapped and enslaved by threat of violence. >> i think the average american citizen would be shocked to see one girl treated like this, much less the number we have here in houston. >> texas state investigator mike barnett is part of a team that has spent the last six years trying to shut down traffickers who kidnap and rape young women. and linda geoffen is the county attorney for harris county, texas, and she prosecutes those cases. nice to have you both here. >> good morning. >> thank you for coming e havin >> i think a lot of us kind of turn a blind eye. we don't want to see this horror happening here in america. how widespread a problem is this? how many girls are -- have you seen involved in this? >> i don't think anybody has a good number on it because it's hard to get a number on how many women there are. we were looking at close to 2 or 300 in our little area in harris county. >> it's not just sex slavery, by the way. >> no, ma'am, it's not. it can be somebody that's a house maid or something of that nature like a labor situation that aren't being paid. >> and explain how these cantinas in your case here are making money from these girls. >> well, they make a lot of money. they use them as what most people think are prostitutes, but that's not really a good name for them. they're being raped. they're being brought into a cantina and you saw in the story they have anywhere from 15 to 20 of them in a cantina. the customer can come in and pick one and they'll pay anywhere from 50 to $100. it depends on where you go. for a girl to have sex with them. >> linda, as a woman who prosecutes these cases, why can't -- we can't just go in and shut down these places, arrest these people who are putting these women up for sale? >> well, part of the problem is that it is the fastest-growing criminal industry globally right now, rivalling the drug trade. so the people who run these organizations are very sophisticated. and our unit, we're very fortunate in harris county that we've developed a special prosecutions unit. we try to target the criminal enterprise and stop the flow of money. meanwhile, the girls are coming in rapidly. they're coming across the border. as soon as they get across the borden, they're beaten, raped. their families are threatened, they're threatened. and they can have, like in the piece, the door could be open, but they are in such fear of their life and their family's lives that they -- >> they stay in the situation? >> right. >> really important to shed light on this problem. we thank you for being here. linda and mike, thank you both. and by the way, you can see "sex slaves" on sunday night on msnbc. we'll be right back. ♪ [ female announcer ] dry, itchy skin. a long term struggle needs long term relief. eucerin calming creme. used every day, its triple ingredient formula is clinically proven to relieve dry, itchy skin, with 92% of people reporting improved overall skin condition over time. eucerin calming creme. and the gentle cleansing formula of calming body wash. calm, healthy skin starts with eucerin. coming up, decorating for your super bowl bash. plus, easy recipes to please your guests. but first, your local news and weather. and tonight everyone gets a taste of something special... ranch spinach dip. [ male announcer ] hidden valley ranch. mix it up. 9:26 is your time now, 28 degrees. it is another cold day in the nation's capital. tom will take a look at the forecast right after the news. good morning. i'm eun yang. and in the news for today, maryland governor martin o'malley will deliver his state of the state address today. it will be his fifth such speech on the assessment of the state. he's already submitted a budget proposal that closes a $1.3 billion budget gap, largely with spending cuts. you can watch the address live starting at noon on nbc washington nonstop. that's over the air on 4.2 comcast channel 208, verizon 460 and cox 402. quick break now. good morning. still below freezing throughout much of the region, so watch out for that patchy ice. later today into the mid-30s and we'll have a bit of a blustery wind. tomorrow with a high near 40 we'll have increasing clouds after midnight. friday night, maybe a bit of a wintry mix with sleet and freezing rain, changing to rain during the day saturday. may end as a little bit of snow. how's traffic, jerry? >> tom, police dealing with an accident in town possibly due to what appears to be ice. east capitol street and benning road. be careful out there. one more stop out on the interstates this hour. along interstate 66, a little activity over to the shoulder, but as a result of this, it is slowing traffic a bit. two lanes are open, but from fair oaks headed to vienna, headed east to the capital beltway, still running slowly. eun? >> thanks, jerry. millions of americans get it in the mail. it looks like a government survey and asks for your personal information. but is it a scam? liz crenshaw is getting some answers tonight at 5:00. ♪ we're going to warm things up now because we're so tired of this winter weather. we're going to warm things up with a little justin bieber. we've got the 16-year-old phenom back in studio 1a tomorrow. what does that make that? twice this week? >> i think so. >> what other broadcast does that? i mean, really. let's talk about it. >> can't have too much bieber. >> exactly. we're excited about that. we'll also talk about more trouble for lindsay lohan. >> that's right. she's under investigation for allegedly stealing a one-of-a-kind necklace from a los angeles area boutique. we'll have the latest details on that. then are you ready for football? >> yeah. >> here we go. >> the great state of texas. but unfortunately, the cowboys aren't in. it is the steelers versus the packers at the super bowl on sunday. and if you are planning to host a big bash, we'll tell you how to make your home appropriately festive. and then we'll have great treats that are easy to prepare. >> we are going serious on this topic. we've already had two segments on this topic already this week. we'll have two more. this is a big deal. the men like to be fed apparently. >> and the women. >> and the women. a 23% increase in women who love football. >> still below freezing throughout the region. good morning, i'm meteorologist tom kierein. right now, upper 20s to near 30 throughout much of the area and we have a few high clouds coming over. highs today only the mid-30s. this wind that's with us now will settle down later today, and tonight down into the 20s again. tomorrow, increasing clouds with a high near 40. after midnight friday night, might get a little sleet and freezing rain into early saturday morning, changing to rain during the day. precipitation may end as a little bit of wet snow late in the day. partly sunny sunday, high low 40s. >> it's zero here in chicago. absolutely balmy. ladies? >> all right, al. thank you. >> when you come back, we'll give you a big, warm hug. >> that's right. >> all right! >> nice and cozy at least. >> something to look forward to. coming up next, lindsay lohan is under investigation for stealing a one-of-a-kind necklace. male announcer ] sometimes you need tomorrow to finish what you started today. for the aches and sleeplessness in between, there's motrin pm. no other medicine, not even advil pm, is more effective for pain and sleeplessness. motrin pm. is more effective for pain and sleeplessness. everybody's talking about honey bunches of oats. whoa...with cinnamon! it's got warm, freshly baked cinnamon in one delicious heart healthy cereal. mmmm. can't you just taste it? try honey bunches of oats with cinnamon. heck, try 'em all. should we order panda blossom, panda moon... how about chinese at home with wanchai ferry? you can make it in just 14 minutes. mmmh, orange chicken. great. i didn't feel like going out anyway. [ male announcer ] wanchai ferry. restaurant quality chinese in your grocer's freezer. ♪ four decadent flavors. 60 calories. it's me o'clock -- time for jell-o. [ carl ] honey, where's the -- top shelf! life can get a bit... routine. that's why i decided to switch things up with cottonelle ultra toilet paper. [ carl ] oh yeeaaah! you see? it's 35% thicker than the northern brand. [ carl ] love it! you might say this one little switch has made all the difference. peanut, get dressed... we're goin' dancing. [ laughs ] [ female announcer ] little switches can make all the difference. find cottonelle ultra codes. then see how you could win ultra prizes to make little switches in your life. [ crowd cheering ] it's for saying, "i love us." ♪ i love who we are together, how we've grown, from our nervous conversations to the one we two have become. valentine's day is for taking the time to say i love us. ♪ valentine's day is for taking the time to say i love us. out for drinks, eats. i have very well fitting dentures. i like to eat a lot of fruits. love them all. the seal i get with the super poligrip free keeps the seeds from getting up underneath. even well fitting dentures let in food particles. just a few dabs of super poligrip free is clinically proven to seal out more food particles so you're more comfortable and confident while you eat. a lot of things going on in my life and the last thing i want to be thinking about is my dentures. [ charlie ] try super poligrip free. embattled actress lindsay lohan is making bad headlines again. this time, the los angeles police department is investigating here for allegedly stealing a one-of-a-kind necklace from a jewelry store. kristen welker has been covering this story. what's going on? >> good morning, ann. lindsay lohan has been working hard to get her life back on track since she got out of rehab. these new allegations could be a major setback. >> hey, lindsay. did you steal the necklace? >> reporter: lindsay lohan ignored reporters outside the santa monica courthouse wednesday after allegations surfaced that lohan stole this $2,500 necklace from a venice jewelry store near her home on january 22nd. >> soon after the necklace was allegedly stolen, we see a picture that appears to be the necklace hanging around lindsay lohan's neck. that's evidence that the police are taking very seriously. >> reporter: in a written statement, the lapd said they obtained a search warrant on tuesday to look for the missing necklace in lohan's apartment, but prior to service of the warrant, the neck lace was returned. >> there are reports that lindsay is denying that she knew it was taken, that a stylist took it and that she wore it but didn't know where it came from. >> reporter: representatives from the jewelry shop said they gave police surveillance video which shows lohan in their store on the day the necklace disappeared. now it will be up to the los angeles county district attorney to determine whether charges will be filed. >> the da will make a decision. can they prove that she was shoplifting? in order to prove leftheft, you have to prove that the person had an intent to permanently deprive the owner of their property. >> reporter: in 2009, lohan settled out of court after leaving a nightclub with someone else's mink coat. speculation also swirled later that year when gems totaling $400,000 disappeared after lohan posed for an "elle" magazine photo shoot and again when a friend's rolex went missing. she was never charged in either instance. these new allegations couldn't come at a worse time. the troubled actress is currently under investigation in riverside county for allegedly assaulting an employee at the betty ford clinic where she was a patient for three months. lohan was ordered to rehab by judge eldon fox for violating her probation on a dui arrest. analysts say lohan could be in real trouble this time. >> if she's convicted of either shoplifting or assaulting the betty ford worker, the case is going to be sent to judge fox and one would have to assume that if she's convicted of either of those charges that he's going to put her in jail. >> now, the da's office wouldn't comment except to say that no charges have been filed at this time. nbc also reached out to lohan's attorney for comment but never heard back. the acteroress has a status heag set for february 25th. >> kristen welker, thanks for that. coming up next, switching gears and talking about decorating on a dime for your super bowl bash for men and women, after these messages. my vet thinks my insides are in mint condition. [ female announcer ] vets agree, a healthy checkup starts inside. our breakthrough iams premium protection formula is developed with vets with cutting edge ingredients for the lifelong health of your pet. [ dog ] healthy inside and out. come on, up high! [ female announcer ] iams premium protection. our most advanced iams nutrition. ever. [ dog ] i am an iams dog. ♪ woof. so we took her to our olive garden. just us girls. we kept the fun going all through dinner. introducing olive garden's new artisanal raviolis. try our creamy asiago cheese ravioli topped with pan-seared chicken. or try our pear and gorgonzola ravioli topped with sauteed shrimp. starting at just $10.95. with unlimited salad and breadsticks. it was really cool just hanging out -- the three of us. olive garden. when you're here, you're family. the moisturizer in other body washes sits on top of skin. only dove has nutriummoisture, which can nourish deep down. dove body wash with nutriummoisture. superior natural nourishment for your skin. with aveeno nourish plus moisturize. active naturals wheat formulas target and help repair damage in just 3 washes. for softer, stronger... ... hair with life. [ female announcer ] visit aveeno.com to save on nourish plus. [ male announcer ] it's morning... and quaker loves morning. ♪ because when you start your day with the power of oatmeal it's good for your heart. it gives you energy. and it can turn an ordinary day into an extraordinary day. ♪ quaker oatmeal is more than breakfast. it's a superfood. just got more powerful. introducing precise pain relieving cream. it blocks pain signals fast for relief precisely where you need it most. precise. only from the makers of tylenol. that lets you eat six times a day? yeah, baby! try the slim-fast 3-2-1 plan. 3 snacks, 2 shakes or meal bars, and 1 balanced meal. slim fast. who has time to slim slowly? to find out how much people love clean sheets. take one of those pillows and take a big smell. they smell really fresh. aw! this is hot. [ male announcer ] what if we told you we washed these sheets seven days ago? -really? -no way. are you serious? downy! [ male announcer ] ultra downy april fresh. uhh. gimme. [ male announcer ] give us a week and we'll change your bed forever. next stop, facebook. where a man lives the challenge in a macy's window for a week. ♪ where a man lives the challenge in a macy's window for a week. the best device for everything you love to read editors' choice. best dedicated ereader. magazines look spectacular. fantastic device. touch the future of reading at barnes and noble. nookcolor. this morning on "today's home," prepping for your super bowl bash. more and more women are football fans these days. no matter which team you're rooting for, you may want to make sure you have everything you need to throw a hall of fame hearty. here with easy tips is elizabeth mayhew. good morning. >> good morning. >> you grew up in a home where big super bowl party was the thing. >> absolutely. and this -- this is the easy way to go because this is all about going to the grocery store or the hardware store. you've got time to do it. you won't spend a lot of money. perfect. >> i love that 23% increase in the number of women watching football over the past two years. women are loving football. we love to throw a party. where do we start? >> let's start with tube socks. get these at the dollar store. >> i'm familiar with those. >> we're going to make beer cozies. >> okay. >> this is when you grab your beer and it's very cold out of the cooler. you don't want your hand to slip off of it, god forbid. cut it, fold the edge down so you don't have that yucky edge. you slip it over your nice, cold beer and our hands will stay warm. >> cool. >> you're picking tube socks in your team color. notice the colors we have are for the teams. >> coasters. >> next we'll make coasters. this is the fake grass you get at the hardware store. turn it over. you just take a mug, you draw a circle and then you'll take your scissors and you'll cut out a circle. very easy. >> i love this because you can use it for a garden party later in the spring. >> so you've got your bowls. >> we just took plain, white bowls. these are from cb2. very inexpensivnexpensive. this is electrical tape. it's cheap. get it in whatever colors you want. it leaves no sticky residue. you can just pick it up and put it down. put your team color stripes around your bowls. you can use it to kind of decorate anything. it is that simple. >> easy to remove so you can use your bowls for another party. those are the -- where did you get these? >> online, at craft stores in the scrapbooking session. then you just put your favorite team numbers on them or you can put your initials of your team or write "go team." whatever you want. get your kids involved, too. >> yeah, this is cool. now to the snacks, very important. >> this is our basic table. we started with the same fake grass. we just did it in a runner down the middle of the table. on top of that, we used slate. these are just slate cheese boards. you can do your plays, you can discuss what the -- what the quarterback is doing and do that whole thing. >> tell me about the rice crispy treats. >> you can take these to go for your fans also. they are brown rice with honey and peanut butter. >> how did you get them in the football shape. >> a cookie cutter. we got m&ms, layered them in a clear glass vase. >> i'm so girly, but these teams have the least apractive colors. but it makes it look festive. >> we also did this cake. you can get the recipe in "women's day." it's your big touchdown at the end. it's three-dimensional. it's just to make it fun, get everybody involved. it's super easy. >> this is fantastic. you're the only person that can make the steelers colors pretty today. go cowboys! any, elizabeth, thank you. up next, easy and affordable treats for your spectacular super bowl bash. [ female announcer ] why settle for plain bread when you can have pillsbury grands! flaky layers biscuits? the warm, light delicate layers are like nothing else. add a layer of excitement to your next meal. ♪ this morning, super bowl dishes that will keep them cheering no matter which team is winning. sunny anderson is host of "cooking for real." she has big ideas for the big game that are easy to make and easy on the budget. good morning. >> good morning. >> pity party for the jets. >> this is my rally jersey. this is for early super bowl next year. go jets! >> absolutely. start early. >> so you're making an easy beefy cheesy enchilada. >> yes. my easy beefy cheesy enchilada. this is perfect for a super bowl party because you've got friends coming over, a casserole, you can do the day before and put in the oven the day of. makes it really easy for the host. i've got tomato paste. a little bit of garlic and onion. it's just cooked down so it's nice and dark brown. then i have fresh thyme and then cumin. i love kumpcumin. it's like meat on a platter right there. this is going to be the red sauce that's going to go on top and enbetween tin between the l. so i'm going to put in a full can of crushed tomatoes, 28 ounces. and then to that, add in some beef stock. so i'm going to cover this up and let it simmer for about 15 to 20 minutes. it's going to reduce. >> thicken up. >> reduce to a nice, thick red sauce right here, which is what we have. then we'll start working on the beefy layer. >> we like that. bring on the beef. >> i've got packers colors right here. >> perfect. >> with my yellow and my green. >> steelers, too, the yellow. >> right. then some onion. that's just sauteing until it's tender. i'm going to add some garlic, minced up. lots of flavor there. i'm going to add in some more cumin. just marrying the same flavors. some thyme. right here is a little bit of onion powder. mix that in. and now i'm going to add an ingredient that's really key to this. it's a spanish seasoning. it's got the anoto that's going to make it that beautiful color. >> i love that. >> yes, girl. yes. >> so you cook this in. and then you'll add in some roma tomatoes. i've got to come to your party. >> yeah. maybe i'll make your recipe there. >> it's really easy to make. if you're not doing chili or if you want something extra, do a casserole. >> right. >> add the ground beef right in there. you'll cook that -- >> let that brown up. cooked through. >> we'll move back here -- >> did you put any more beef stock in there? >> yes, a little salt and pepper. that's going to cook down. >> you get the gist. perfect. now let's layer it up, right? >> i'm going to bring this red sauce back. it's good to go. we'll start putting these together. now, on the bottom of my dish here, you can do a 13 by 9 casserole. we've got a cup of the sauce, we've got some corn tortillas down, welcome to the party, y'all. and then right over the top, we'll do this ground beef. >> it's like a lasagna. just layer it up. >> right. >> and you can use corn -- are these corn? >> i wouldn't use flour only because of the gummy nature that they take on when you cook them. use corn. i use the beef kind of like the bre bricks and the cheese like the mortar. it's going to held everything together. over the top of that layer some more sauce. >> can you put beans if you want? >> you can do beans if you like it, yes. you can do any kind of meat. you don't have to do beef. do ground chicken. >> you bake it for how long? >> bake it in the oven, 350 for about 25 minutes. everything is cup pleatly cooked. you just want it to bubble down. >> serve it up and have a party. sunny anderson, always great to have you here. happy super bowl party. oh, i see. a throne for the tv... room for movies... your workout gear... non-stop football... it's a man cave! the boys next door will never leave. who says we want them to? some ice out there today, on the chilly side this morning. 9:58 is our time right now -- 9:56. sorry. i'm barbara harrison. in the news for today, maryland governor martin o'malley will take on pepco today, proposing emergency legislation establishing standards for utility companies. it would require service quality and reliability standards to be implemented by july of 2012. if you're out driving today, watch out for that black ice. a prince george's county police cruiser hit a patch of that ice and slammed into a utility pole in clinton overnight. the officer is in the hospital this morning but is expected to be okay. and let's talk about the ice out there. how long are we going to have it? any more melting going on, tom? >> yeah. it's very deceptive. it looks wet. in fact, it is ice. no melting going on now. we're still below freezing, but it should get above freezing by noontime and middle part of the afternoon, but right now, still in the 20s to around 30. reaching the mid-30s mid-afternoon, some high clouds in and out, and these winds we have now will settle down. tomorrow, increasing clouds with a high near 40. then, friday night after midnight, might get some sleet and freezing rain, and that will probably change over to rain saturday morning it may end as a bit of snow sunday afternoon. tom, how's traffic? >> rush hour, 395, traffic was held back because of earlier issues around landmark. once the flood gates were opened, we loaded up to and across the 14th street bridge. outbound is okay. one more stop downtown, finally getting relief. the anacostia bridges thinning out. earlier issues there are clear. barbara? >> thank you. 9:58 is the time right now. tonight on news 4, millions of americais a an edition of "t" with hoda kotb and kathie lee gifford from 7a in rockefeller plaza. >> are you ready for the party? go for it. ♪ ♪ the east coast girls are hip ♪ i really dig those styles they wear ♪ ♪ and the southern girls with the way they talk ♪ ♪ they knock me out when i'm down there ♪ >> go, take it off. ♪ the farmer's daughter really makes you feel all right ♪ ♪ and the northern girls with the way they kiss ♪ ♪ they keep your boyfriends warm at night ♪ ♪ wish they all could be california girls ♪ ♪ wish they all could be california girls ♪ >> we don't want any more of this winter. we've had it. >> i need to sit down before people get a good look at my thighs. >> this is our little beach party. we've decided we've had it. >> we don't even care what it is, jerry. actually, we do. but we know it's going to be good. i hope you guys are joining us at home. we hope you're in your thong or your two-piece or your sarong. it is february 3rd. it is thursday. while the good part of the country is shoveling itself out -- you know what i mean. >> we know that across the country for the last several days, schools have been canceled, all kinds of stuff has been happening. there has been a cold weather open. and you can see that people -- look at these images that we've been watching. and i think we just got sick of it. we got sick of stepping in icy cold puddles and putting our boots on and all that stuff. >> he's fine. whoever is underneath all that, they're fine. b >> but we've all been through it and we decided we were going to warm it up. the studio is nice and toasty. >> it is. we just hope you're going to join us because for the next half hour we're going to forget what's outside, because it's all attitude. everything in life is attitude. >> i do agree with that. when you start to feel crummy and freezing like we have been for the last few days, a nice drink -- and i think the key is playing good music. that automatically transforms you. why don't we go to the ihoda. can we? >> yeah. >> i don't even remember what i picked. it was something warm and toasty. this one will put you in the mood. this one is called, and you know it, "walking on sunshine" by katrina and the wave. ♪ >> i have to say -- ♪ i used to think maybe you loved me ♪ >> it's thirst day. ♪ i can't wait till the day when you knock on my door ♪ >> i like this one, hoda. >> we have to get a shot of tara. she's cuing up right there. she's our floor director. she promised she would wear a bikini. >> and she didn't sddisappoint. >> over her outfit. >> she doesn't seem to care what's going on. some of the crew got in on the fun. >> i was hoping the guys would wear thongs. i was looking guard forward to but nobody bit the bait. by the way, everybody, jerry also has cute toes. he has really cute toes. we're glad. you know what they say about a man whose second toe is long like that. >> what? w what does that say? >> that's morton toe. >> what does it mean, jerry? >> i don't know. >> it must mean something. >> you've got a good song you like. >> yes, this is my favorite. you know this one. ♪ summer breeze, makes me feel fine ♪ >> seals and croft, i love them. did they break up? did they die? i hope not. >> did you ever play that game dead or alive? there are people you don't know if they're dead or alive. >> there are a lot of people who have just disappeared from the scene. >> here's something that happened that has nothing to do with this but it ticked me off yesterday. i was trying to make a long-distance phone call from my home phone. s you have a home phone now. >> i do. they kept saying you're being connected to at&t. the lady gets on. what's your phone number, she asks. well, i don't know because it's new and nobody calls me on that phone. i said, i don't know the number. and they said, well, you owe a lot on your phone bill. which, can i tell you, i pay on line, so i have the on-line payment. >> is this your brand new phone that you just got a couple months ago? >> this is the phone that they transferred -- remember all those troubles transferring the phone? when i get a bill, i rip it in half because it's already paid on line. rip it in half, why would i look at it. it's the same bill every time. the lady said i owed $450 on my phone bill because it had been four months. i did pay because i do it on line. anyway, they didn't have record of it. and then to turn it back on takes a long time. i just want to let you know if you think you're having a recurring payment, sometimes you're not. because that happened to me. >> that's because you moved. >> yes. it is because i moved. >> the one thing you also have to learn, hoda, is to actually open your mail and read it before you throw it out. >> huh-uh. >> she's had jury summons. i think she was arrested in three states and didn't know it. >> every time i go to my mailbox, there's so much jammed in there. it was one of those candid camera moments because it just kept coming, it just kept coming. at the end of the day, it doesn't matter, anyway. >> it might, though. if you want to get away, let's talk about the best beaches in the country and let's sort of emotionally visualize there. number five. >> clearwater, florida is the number five beach. >> look at it sparkling. >> later in the show we're going to show you inexpensive beach destinations you can take now. number four is cape maine, new jersey. >> it's charming. >> beautiful. number three is hawaii, a place called poi pool. >> it's kawai, i think. >> and number two, san diego. >> i totally agree with that. >> always gorgeous weather in san diego. >> always, always. >> and number one i found a little surprising. i didn't realize, myrtle beach, south carolina. >> now this time of year, myrtle beach, south carolina is not that far away. beautiful place, but i don't know if i would want to be on the beach right now. wait till memorial day to go there. >> can we talk quickly about charlie sheen? >> errol flynn? >> charlie sheen made a comment today where he was doing in-home rehab. >> is there such a thing? the experts say no. >> well, he spoke out and he did talk a little bit about why is everybody paying so much attention to me when there are big world events in egypt going on. his quote was, i have a lot of work to do to be able to return the support to so many people. i want to say thank you to my fellow cast members, the crew of two and a half men and everyone at cbs and warner brothers. like errol flynn, who had to put down the sword on occasion, i want to say thank you. >> errol flynn, for those of you not as old as i am, did a lot of swashbuckler movies. he was quite the swashbuckler off camera, if you know what i mean. he was legendary as a prowess with the ladies. so patterning is like after errol flynn, he wondered if it was the time for humor. if he's doing this in-home rehab, it seems to me he has a bouncer at the door keeping out the hookers, keeping out the drug people, but he can't live at home. he has got to learn how to say no to those kinds of influences on his life when he leaves that house. >> and that's where the phrase "in like flynn" came from. >> i always thought it was flint. >> okay or not okay. here's the question. >> we're not going to talk about lindsay lohan? >> i don't know. is it okay to ignore valentine's day? >> and i said -- >> at your own peril. >> if you're in a relationship. i don't expect anything at valentine's day at all. and i don't expect anything at christmas. i always tell frank, i have so much. i don't need a thing. i need peace and quiet. he always gives me something, anyway. >> as he should. >> and you say it depends on where your heart is. but who would turn down a chance for chocolate. >> i don't like valentine's day. i think it's only for people in a serious dating mode. my first husband and i, our divorce became final on valentine's day, so i don't like it. >> i have a feeling this valentine's day is going to make you change your mind. >> do you? >> are you embarrass nd your bathing suit? >> not sitting down. if i had to walk out here backwards, i would be. >> we wear dresses sometimes that are revealing, but i felt embarrassed walking around the halls with this on. i don't know why. >> i gave mac a flash. then you gave him one, too. >> i had to. he made me. i felt pressured. >> he's going down the steps to update what's happening in egypt. that's all right, that's all right, we'll do the heavy lifting on egypt. >> sara is decked out from head to toe, too. >> not really. i'm disappointed in sara. she's young, 34 years old, and she's not getting in a bathing suit. >> 33. >> all the more reason. >> we were asking fans how they keep warm in the winter, and kathy said i have a slumber party in the living room with a homemade beach. >> up next, whether you're pleasure is margaritaville or maui, we're going to help you plan your escape with great giveaway deals. who's quitting with chantix and support... our kids go to school together. -we work together. -i'm in your cooking class. we play ball together. [ male announcer ] chantix is a non-nicotine pill proven to help people quit smoking. it reduces the urge to smoke. and you can even smoke during the first week. quitting on my own never seemed to be enough. this time it was different. this time i was ready. ready to take control. ready to talk to my doctor. [ male announcer ] some people had changes in behavior, thinking or mood, hostility, agitation, depressed mood and suicidal thoughts or actions while taking or after stopping chantix. if you notice any of these symptoms or behaviors, stop taking chantix and call your doctor right away. tell your doctor about any history of depression or other mental health problems, which could get worse while taking chantix. don't take chantix if you've had a serious allergic or skin reaction to it. if you develop serious allergic or skin reactions, stop taking chantix and see your doctor right away as some of these can be life-threatening. dosing may be different if you have kidney problems. until you know how chantix affects you, use caution when driving or operating machinery. common side effects include nausea, trouble sleeping and unusual dreams. ♪ ♪ i'm not just someone who's quitting with chantix and support, we share recipes. i'm your coworker. neighbor. teammate. -friend. -friend. -friend. [ male announcer ] over 7 million people nationwide have talked to their doctor about chantix. chances are, you could be one of them. talk to your doctor. find out if chantix is right for you. challenge the need for such heavy measures with olay. new regenerist micro-sculpting serum for firmer skin in 5 days. pretty heavy lifting for such a lightweight. [ female announcer ] olay regenerist. takes care of 33 loads. tide stain release only handles 11. and clorox 2 gets rid of tough stains right before your eyes. clorox 2. find it next to the clorox bleach. until the combination of three good probiotics in phillips' colon health defended against the bad gas, diarrhea and constipation. ...and? it helped balance her colon. oh, now that's the best part. i love your work. [ female announcer ] phillips' colon health. we're back to the special beach edition of our show, and we want you to have some fun, too. >> if you're tired of shifverin in the cold, get ready to pack your bags. where is your bathing suit, mark? >> it's underneath. we're going to strip later. >> all right. let us get started. one of your first destinations, san juan, puerto rico. 80 degrees right now there. 80. >> great place in the caribbean, but the best thing is you don't need to pay a lot to go. at the intercontinental hotel, round trip from miami for 495. it's about $600. >> that's a little more than $100 a day. >> a direct flight, which is great. >> next up, desert hop springs in florida. >> right next to palm springs. there is a lot of history in palm springs. it's going to be about 70 degrees for a high. but you go up the gondola and you need a winter coat because it's snowing up on the mountain. >> but it's beautiful there. >> we went on a jeep tour and learned on an oasis how desert air-conditioning works. very, very cool. >> i want to hang out with barry m manilow. >> orlando, florida is a hot spot. it's supposed to hit 80 degrees tomorrow in orlando. >> we want to get away, especially in the northeast with this ice storm we just had. all of florida is great right now. you have the beaches, you have attractions, you have theme parks. the hot thing right now in orlando is the wizarding world of harry potter, universal studios. >> that's one of our sister companies. >> and the next one is what? cruises. >> cruising is everywhere now. you don't have to get on an airplane because they have things called home prt cruising. 70% of the population is within a 7-hour drive of a cruise ship. you can hop on a three-night cruise. $149, three nights on a cruise. >> it's the best vacation value anywhere. >> and a company you might not have heard of, msc cruises, $450 for a seven-night cruise right now. >> honolulu, your last stop on the train here. >> it's still the united states. it's not that adventurous, right? five-hour flight, roughly about $500 round trip and you can stay at a place called the outrigger lawana hotel. it's not on the beach, it's about five minutes from the beach, but you save a lot of money. you're two blocks from all the shopping in waikiki. you can take an efficiency for $139 and you can cook some food in your efficiency. one-bedroom condo. >> hawaii got so hard hit by the recession, there's probably a lot of deals. we'll see you for the second half of the show. >> now that you know where you're going to go, we're going to show you what to wear when you get there. just get there in your head. nice talking to you. really that's about all we ever did is just work and play here. pretty well. i think up here in this area, we're, we're kinda like a novelty almost now, because there's so few of us left. but farmers are farmers -- we enjoy what we do and we keep doing it. and i just keep trucking, just keep going. [ female announcer ] meet the families behind real california dairy at realcaliforniamilk.com. ♪ progresso. oh yes hi. can you please put my grandma on the phone please? thanks. excuse me a sec. another person calling for her grandmother. she thinks it's her soup huh? i'm told she's in the garden picking herbs. she is so cute. okay i'll hold. she's holding. wha? (announcer) progresso. you gotta taste this soup. revlon has something cool for your skin. infused with hydrating coconut water, new revlon colorstay aqua mineral makeup is a refreshing lightweight powder that feels cool on your skin... leaving it smooth and luminous all day. i've never felt makeup like this before. new revlon colorstay aqua mineral makeup. refreshingly perfect. that lets you eat six times a day? yeah, baby! try the slim-fast 3-2-1 plan. 3 snacks, 2 shakes or meal bars, and 1 balanced meal. slim fast. who has time to slim slowly? we are back and we're partying it up on our indoor beach as things try to thaw outside. >> we couldn't party without our guru jill martin. >> are you drinking on the show? >> i think there is pomegranate in here. this is delicious. >> welcome. >> thanks for inviting me. >> did you bring some hot numbers for us? >> i brought some hot numbers and a hot man. >> he was hard to miss. >> we're talking about tie dye, right? >> i'm talking about the one-shoulder thing, but this is our beautiful model. let's get to her. erica. tie dye is a huge trend for summer and spring. everything is cyclical. cafeswimwear.com. and trigo jewelry. i think it's fun to layer up. >> are those affordable? >> everything is $60 to like $150, so depending on your price range, you can get it. >> that's what i want. >> all right, we have a mommy/daughter team, felicia and her daughter danny. let's bring them out. >> oh, how cute are they! >> isn't that adorable. >> sandy said, do you want my business card and she gave it to me, which i have right here. thank you so much. this is the incacollection.com. i'm not a matchy/matchy person, but look how cute they are. the bag is old navy. >> thank you, ladies. >> thank you, guys. >> we have amanda, huh? >> this is the shapewear swimsuit. >> ten pounds in ten seconds. built-in control panels. but look how cute she looks with the ruffles. this is miraclesuit.com. i love the fun towel. the jewelry, look at this necklace, which i will buy, and the glasses. i love those for the summer. >> the miracle suits are genius because you think that stuff has to come out somewhere and it doesn't. >> miracle suits keeps it right where it needs to be. >> and they come in jeans and all different forms, so we love that. >> thank you, amanda. >> what's this cut it out look. >> this is a huge trend for spring and summer. mostly for summer, i should say. and this is a trend, like, if you're small busted and you want to be bigger busted, you want to draw attention away from that area. it really highlights your stomach, but of course you have to have a body like this to wear it. haviana's, which i always love for the summer, and etica jewelry just stacks up her arm. >> i like the stacking. >> i'm depressed. >> you're depressed, here we go. >> william, we've been waiting for you. >> william to the rescue. william can pull off anything. i like the music. >> why is he wearing the towel around that chest. what are you trying to hide? >> william, remove the towel. >> thank you. >> he can do the sporty look. a man can also wear it. i just want to point out the shoes, the espadrilles. celitas.com. >> i'm not crazy about a man's feet. they creep me out a little. >> you're also saying how comfortable they are, right? >> i like flip-flops on a guy, like the surfer look, but the sandals -- >> does frank wear them? >> no. frank hides his feet. >> coming up, what you need to know about super bowl snacks so you don't ruin your diet. sheets or bar: how do you get your bounce? well, my husband's at home with the laundry, so it's a good thing i'm a bar person because i know the laundry will be fresh. the rest of the house? (farting) exactly. how do you get your bounce? woman: love the bar. fortunately, there's senokot-s tablets. senokot-s for occasional constipation associated with certain medications. save $3 right now. go to getconstipationrelief.com. new clashes are heating up in egypt again and shots are being fired in the air around cairo's central square. coming up on "news 4 midday," the latest on the violence and a rally at the state department here today. good morning, i'm barbara harrison. also coming up, we'll help you plan for valentine's day, including what one casino is offering happy couples. "news 4 midday" beg we're back on this thirst day with more of "today," and unfortunately, the party is over, people. >> no, it's never over! >> it's time to face the facts, it's still winter, but here's some good news. the super bowl is just days away. >> if your goal is to count some calories, you better be armed and ready to go. natalie firstrom is here, and we are going to be put to another test. you have to have some fun with food, right? >> jump in any time because there is a very cool prize and i know you love to compete. >> i love prizes. >> we're going to start with some quickies. you have these chicken wings and then you're going to have some nachos. one of these has 240 and one has 330. >> 330. >> kathie lee, you're right, you get that. >> i was taught that, too. >> now we're going to rearrange this. lowest to highest fat. >> lowest, lowest. >> you have to rearrange them all. we have hummus, light ranch and guacamo guacamole. >> no, that way! that way. >> that's right. hoed it gets it, 1-1. next, here's some winter snacks. we have kale chips, we have nuts and we have popcorn. >> they have a lot of calcium, they're kind of good. a kale factory in brooklyn. one of these has 100 calories in a serving. hoda is right. the rest have anywhere from 130 to -- >> black and yellow, black and yellow, black and yellow. >> black and gold. >> now we're going to rearrange these. >> black and yellow, black and yellow, black and yellow. >> now we're going to arrange these lowest to highest calories. this is chili, a subway sandwich and a pizza. she's wrong, so you get to rearrange. lowest to highest calories. you're saying that's the lowest and you're right. >> like i said, black and yellow, black and yellow. >> next, who wants to pick just one of these. a regular hot dog, plain hamburger and peppers. which one of this has the lowest number of calories? >> i would say the hot dog. >> yes. here we have to think about beer. regular beer has too many calories. one of these calories have 130 calories in the whole bottle. which one? >> this one. >> wrong. >> you pick. >> this could take a while. i'm sorry, i don't know beer at all. i'll just say heineken. >> it's the guinness. >> i can't stand the way it tastes. >> that's not going to work for you. one of these has 300, one has 420. chocolate chip cookies or the ice cream. hoda, you're right. >> i know my sweets. >> you can finish strong. one of these has 350 calories. which one do you think it is? is it the brownie, the cupcake or the piece of marble cake. >> no. >> by default? >> that has 350! >> that's right. >> i don't like that. that's so funny. that's the most calories? >> no, that's the least. >> oh, i went the most. >> she didn't say the most, she said which one has 300 or higher. >> okay. >> what's the prize? >> the prize, it looks like we have a terrible towel today. >> oh, rack bottom. >> i'm going to take the terrible towels and the steelr r helmets. you can have the cheesehead. >> natalie, we love you. next up, she wants to sing to you and she's going to get her chance. we've written a song especially for her. she's an amazing woman. please stay with us. ♪ special k protein shakes -- ♪ a truly great-tasting breakfast shake. with 10 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber, it's the creamy, delicious way to satisfy... your hunger to help you lose weight. ♪ so you can kick the tin can habit. try special k protein shakes today. ♪ 'cause today is a great day ♪ for falling in love ♪ ♪ a little rendezvous ♪ that special something ♪ that will carry you through ♪ that little reward ♪ for all the things you do [ female announcer ] luscious, creamy filling -- perfectly combined with our intense, slow-melting chocolate -- the one and only ghirardelli squares chocolate. ♪ ghirardelli of san francisco. moments of timeless pleasure. [ cheering ] a place for friends, family, and your husband's trademark victory dance. [ cheering ] now the crowd is gone. and all that remains is the stink. [ dog barks ] but you're ready because febreze air effects cleans away tough game day odors in the air. sweat-socks, chicken wings, garlic dip. and leaves a light fresh scent. febreze air effects. just one of the many ways to keep your home fresh with febreze. i won't. ♪ [ female announcer ] clear some snow. ♪ or spread a little warmth. maxwell house gives you a rich full flavored cup of coffee so you can be good to the last drop. ♪ work, work all week long ♪ punching that clock from dusk till dawn ♪ ♪ countin' the days till friday night ♪ ♪ that's when all the conditions are right for a good time ♪ [ male announcer ] advanced technology that helps provide cleaner air, cleaner water, and helps make all of us more energy efficient is something the whole world can get in step with. [ static ] ♪ i need a good time [ male announcer ] ecomagination from ge. it's technology that makes the world work. ♪ it is time for "everyone has a story" and in a minute we're going to meet our newest winner. her name is nicole maciano. >> she has a story of survival. before we bring her out, let's hear what she has to say. >> my name is nicole, and i'm glad i'm alive to tell my story. i'm 21 years old and was born with cystic fibrosis. i had part of my intestine removed and at age eight, part of my gallbladder removed. my parents gave me as normal a life as possible, but i was sick more than i was healthy. it seemed i was on oxygen 24/7. i was born and raised in ft. lauderdale, florida. my parents decided to have a double lung transplant at duke university hospital in north carolina. i am now three years post-transplant. due to several complications, we found ourselves relocated to north carolina to be under the close care of duke. my father still lives in florida to keep my insurance. my parents are married 23 years and i have never seen two people more dedicated to their daughter. i'm grateful to be alive, and i try to give back to the transplant foundation and the hospital as much as i can. i have been performing since i was a little girl and my heart belongs to broadway. ♪ >> every day for me is a gift and i take nothing for granted. >> you can see why her letter really inspired david freeman and me. she's here right now with her wonderful parents, denise and frank. what was it like for you guys to look back down memory lane like that? >> difficult but extremely happy she's here with us today for this opportunity. >> she's a walking miracle. >> she is. >> and she's a light. she is lit from inside, you can tell. when you were younger, i was reading about you, and you used to hide the fact from your friends that you had cystic fibrosis. you didn't want anyone to know. why? >> just when you're younger, the cliques are going on. >> there was a moment when you thought that when your daughter was having trouble breathing that she may not make it. describe that time in your life for us. >> it was extremely difficult, but thank god we have a lot of family support. and we just spent every day as a gift and we just went through it, and we're here today. it's amazing. >> but you're separated so much of the time. what's that like for you, frank? they're your life. and you sacrifice your time with them to be in florida, have residency, to keep her insurance going. >> correct. it's very difficult. but we do what we have to do. we move forward every day and we pay attention to her life and that's where we're at. we dedicate everything to her. >> i love that you said you have two choices in life, you either run or you fight. >> that's correct. >> you're not a runner. >> no, we're all fighters. >> describe your philosophy. >> there's not many choices when you're put up against something like this. you either go away from it and shy away and whatever happens happens, or you take the bull by the horns and you go forward. you head on to everything that comes at you and you deal with it. >> a double lung transplant, though, that sounds so daunting when you think about it. it must have been jarring for you to hear that was going to be the solution. >> it wasn't a pleasant moment at that point in time. very touching. >> what keeps you going other than the love of your daughter in your downest moments? what do you do? >> we communicate a lot. we do a lot of skype back and forth, we're on the phone constantly and we try to keep busy. we work. i'm very involved in business, so to speak, in florida, and we just keep going. every chance i get, i'm back to north carolina to stay with my girls. >> i'm glad we could fly you here to see each other. >> after that double lung transplant, did you feel immediately like a different person? what was the sensation after the surgery? >> numbness. >> that was first? >> of course. but i went in surgery on oxygen, i came out breathing on my own, basically. >> so that had to be a relief. >> exactly. >> and you love singing. >> during the clip, you kind of cringed. >> but you felt like you were meant to be on stage. tell us about that. >> my parents told me i was singing before i was talking. dancing before i was walking. >> you must have been brought up on all the disney movies, ariel and them singing all the great songs. >> you're actually going to sing your own song. when kath told you on the phone, by the way, you're going to sing a song. what were you thinking? we heard you screaming, but what was the rest of it? >> we usually get already established broadway stars come to sing your song to you, but once i heard the demo of you singing, i called david and said, my god, this girl sings beautifully. >> thank you. it was an astonishing feeling. i'm so honored just being here, let alone singing as well. >> it's amazing you were having trouble breathing and now you can just sing and let it rip. i love that. i just love it. we're so excited, we can't wait. >> coming up next, you have to stay with us, because dave freeman is going to be on the piano and the wild man is going to be -- he's over there providing everything else, and nicole is going to sing a song that we wrote for her called "more than anything." it doesn't get better than that. we'll be right back. [ bob ] i'd love to build bird houses for the rest of my life. so i've got to take care of my heart. for me cheerios is a good place to start. [ male announcer ] to keep doing what you love, take care of your heart with cheerios. the whole grain oats can help lower cholesterol. love your heart so you can do what you love. hey tough guy, that cold needs alka-seltzer plus! it has the cold-fighting power of an effervescent packed in a liquid-gel for all over relief! hiyah! dude! challenge the need for such heavy measures with olay. new regenerist micro-sculpting serum for firmer skin in 5 days. pretty heavy lifting for such a lightweight. [ female announcer ] olay regenerist. takes care of 33 loads. tide stain release only handles 11. and clorox 2 gets rid of tough stains right before your eyes. clorox 2. find it next to the clorox bleach. how can expedia now save me even more on my hotel?es. well, hotels know they can't fill every room every day. like this one. and this one. and oops, my bad. so, they give expedia ginormous discounts with these: unpublished rates. which means i get an even more rockin' hotel, for less. my brain didn't even break a sweat. where you book matters. expedia. fixing the name. it's fiber none. looks like one. well, i know. i put an "n" there. ah! fiber one honey clusters cereal! that's really good! it tastes good, so there can't be fiber in it! it's actually got about half a day's worth of fiber. [ asst mgr ] it says so right on the box. [ fiber seeker ] really? try it. [ mr. mehta ] honey, touch of brown sugar, crunchy clusters -- any cardboard? cardboard no, delicious yes. so where's the fiber? maybe it's in the honey clusters. [ male announcer ] fiber one. cardboard no, delicious yes. ♪ everyone has a moment >> we're back with our series "everyone has a story." we are back with nicole maciana who shared her story with us. and her parents are here with us. >> please welcome nicole singing "more than anything." ♪ for as long as i can remember ♪ ♪ all i wanted was to sing ♪ so for many nights, with all my might, i'd sing ♪ ♪ more than anything ♪ but as long as i can remember ♪ ♪ it was so hard for me breathe ♪ ♪ so day after day i'd live that way ♪ ♪ still i'd sing, i'd sing constantly ♪ ♪ it gave me joy and a reason to live ♪ ♪ the more people loved it the more that i'd give ♪ ♪ and i'd hold the high notes as long as i could ♪ ♪ and, oh, how i'd thrill when i knew it was good ♪ ♪ and i knew i understood that i could i had to sing ♪ ♪ yes, i had to sing ♪ more than anything ♪ ahhhh ♪ i had to sing ♪ ahhhhh ♪ i had to sing ♪ so don't let anyone tell you ♪ that you're not meant to paint ♪ ♪ don't let anyone say don't sing today ♪ ♪ just sing, sing, sing ♪ more than anything [ applause ] >> all right, and we'll be back with a surprise from nicole, but first this is "today" from nbc. we're back with "everyone has a story," honoring a very special lady, nicole maciano. by the way, that was terrific. how did that feel? tell us about it. >> besides nervewracking, it was a great experience, it really was. >> you couldn't look at your mom and dad. >> i couldn't. i probably would have fallen on the floor crying. >> they couldn't take their eyes off of you. >> what do you think of your daughter singing? >> absolutely amazing. she sings like an angel. >> tell us about your lungs. you can't feel the breath going in and out? >> no, i can't. when they did the transplant, they had to sever the nerve. i have no nerves in my lungs, so i can't feel when my lungs get cold, things like that. >> you would never know it. we want to give you a little gift, don't we, my darling? >> we know your dream of being on broadway, we know it's hard to travel, so when our friends at the durham arts festival heard your story, they gave you four passes to broadway and soundtracks. in addition to the tickets, you'll meet the durham cast and have a walk-on role. they sent a special message. take a look. >> congratulations, nicole. the durham cast is so excited to meet you and share the stage with you in durham, north carolina. can't wait to see you soon. >> i thought we had five seconds left. >> what do you think about that tribute there? >> that's amazing. that means so much to me. you have no idea. >> that's awesome. you haven't seen the show? >> no. >> and you didn't have any time to see a show while you were here this week? >> no, i have not. don't make me cry on tv. >> i need to know how much fun we actually have left here. >> 30 seconds. >> dave always writes such beautiful melodys to the words. thank you so much. he's on a plane today to go back to hollywood. he has to write an entire second season for a show on disney called "i'm with the band." you're going to be driving home, right, to north carolina? >> yes. >> you're going to a plane back to -- >> thanks, you guys. reunited again. >> thanks for singing your amazing gift with us. >> justin bieber is here tomorrow, in case you're wondering. >> awesome. -- captions by vitac -- www.vitac.com [ male announcer ] verizon believes that no small business should be invisible, so we decided to help a real small business make it easier for customers to find them. my name is elizabeth heinz, we're at isabella's boutique in rockville center, new york. do me a favor, and search for your business. alright. ♪ what did you find? nothing. i mean, if you don't have a website, you're basically invisible. [ male announcer ] 40% of small businesses don't have a website. but with verizon websites powered by intuit, it's so easy you can do it yourself, and so powerful it can make any small business more visible. add photos... and then, we'll hit "publish." i have a website?! you have a website. oh my gosh, i can't believe it was that easy. [ male announcer ] verizon can put your small business on over 100 search sites so customers can find you, with a personalized business e-mail address that connects with your site. visit me at isabellasny.com. [ male announcer ] small business owners, don't be invisible. call today and get a 6 month free trial of verizon websites powered by intuit, when you sign up for verizon's reliable high-speed internet & phone for business, just $84.99 a month with no term contract required. call the verizon center for customers with disabilities verizon. the hardest working network in business. at 800-974-6006 tty/v. leftover desserts, boardroom, now. and hurry before the interns get here. thanks but i already have some yummy black forest cake. black forest cake? ♪ so? [ female announcer ] need a guilt free treat? try yoplait light. and i've lost weight. [ female announcer ] with 30 delicious flavors, all around 100 calories each. yoplait. it is so good. the yoplait you love, now in a 4-pack. try it today.

Related Keywords

Jerusalem ,Israel General ,Israel ,Nevada ,United States ,El Paso ,Texas ,Australia ,San Diego ,California ,San Francisco ,Egypt ,Massachusetts ,Nepal ,Townsville ,Queensland ,Spain ,Chicago ,Illinois ,Miami ,Florida ,Canada ,Egyptian Museum ,Al Qahirah ,Philadelphia ,Pennsylvania ,Indiana ,Virginia ,Georgia ,Riverside County ,Michigan ,Cincinnati ,Ohio ,London ,City Of ,United Kingdom ,Duke University Hospital ,North Carolina ,Puerto Rico ,Maryland ,Brooklyn ,France ,Hawaii ,Honduras ,Myrtle Beach ,South Carolina ,Turkey ,China ,Beijing ,Harris County ,Washington ,District Of Columbia ,Rockville ,New York ,Santa Monica ,Hollywood ,Arlington County ,Los Angeles County ,Vienna ,Wien ,Austria ,Jersey ,New Hampshire ,Roma ,Lazio ,Italy ,Boston ,Honolulu ,Mississippi ,Valley Ranch ,Cairo ,Maine ,Springfield ,Wanchai ,Guangdong ,Phoenix ,Arizona ,Houston ,Orlando ,Dallas ,Yemen ,Italian ,Americans ,Australian ,America ,French ,Israeli ,American ,Canadian ,Chinese ,Egyptian ,Spanish ,Lindsay Lohan ,Liz Crenshaw ,Dave Freeman ,Gabrielle Giffords ,Michelle Snyder ,John Lennon ,Martin Yan ,Mohamed Elbaradei ,Richard Smucker ,Ben Bernanke ,Justin Bieber ,Doug Hirshhorn ,Natalie Morales ,Elden Fox ,Colin Jones ,Elizabeth Mayhew ,Mary Thornburg ,Joe Krebs ,Carol Barron ,Elizabeth Heinz ,Eun Yang ,Jill Martin ,Meredith Vieira ,Roberto Roberta ,Kristen Welker ,Hosni Mubarak ,Mike Barnett ,Robby Ludwig ,Melanie Griffith ,David Freeman ,Matt Lauer ,Kiri Blakely ,Mary Thornberry ,Kathie Lee ,Kenneth Feinberg ,David Wilson ,Michelle Kaczynski ,Los Angeles ,Al Roker ,Fletcher Jr ,Richard Engel ,Errol Flynn ,Eldon Fox ,Betty Ford ,Trish Regan ,Brian Williams ,Lester Holt ,Gail Saltz ,Michelle Obama ,Nba ,Mizell Michelle Kaczynski ,Barbara Harrison ,Jeff Rosson ,Harry Potter ,Kathie Lee Gifford ,Rockefeller Plaza ,Joe Namath Lauren ,Lisa Byer ,