Transcripts For WRC Today 20110625

good morning, everyone. welcome to "today" on a saturday morning. i'm lester holt. >> and i'm amy robach. two big stories developing overnight. that train crash in nevada and new york legalizing same-sex marriage, becoming the largest state to allow gay couples to marry. >> a lot of news to talk about this morning. we'll have more on both those stories coming up. also historic flooding in north dakota. the water rising from the soares river has reached alarming levels and there are devastating wild fires to tell but in the south and the plains continue to scorch thousands of acres. and then he's the american gangster who was on the run, after years on the fbi's most-wanted list, whitey bulger is back in custody and back in boston. he's accused of murdering at least 19 people, and this morning we're learning new details on the charges against the reputed mobster, and on the life he lived in hiding. also, a whitewater rafting trip that took a harrowing turn. it was supposed to be a day of fun on the river. the rapids, though, too powerful and in second three friends were thrown into the water. one of them reported it all from a camera that was attached to his helmet. unbelievable stuff. we're going to talk to them in an exclusive interview. they were pretty beaten up. >> that's scary stuff. and then remembering michael jackson. it was exactly two years ago today that he died. since then, what has life been like for his children and his famous brothers and sisters? we'll find out when we talk with la toya jackson coming up. >> let's get started this morning with a developing story out of nevada where an amtrak train collided with a tractor trailer. it was a deadly accident and there were scores of injuries. nbc's miguel almaguer reports. >> reporter: cell phone video captures the panic and confusion as fire and smoke billow from the train. a scramble to safety after a fatal collision in northern nevada. this tracker trailer slammed into the side of an amtrak train moving at high speed. some 200 passengers and more than a dozen crew members were aboard. the collision followed by a fireball, and sheer panic. >> it was unreal. it was -- it was just like a nightmare. >> the train was on fire. the car that hit us had exploded. and we didn't know where we were going to go. >> reporter: jim escaped unharmed and lucky to be alive. >> there was a big ball of flame all around the observation car we were in. with a bunch of smoke. and everybody started yelling. some people started opening up windows and jumping out of them. >> reporter: the westbound california zephyr was en route from chicago to emeryville, california, when it was struck 20 miles outside of lovelock, nevada. passengers broke out windows to escape the burning train. they say it took pair med inks up to 30 minutes to reach the rural area. >> i ran back to help some of the wounded. and one guy hit his head pretty bad but he wasn't too bad. then there was one woman that cut her legs really bad. >> reporter: with passengers in critical condition, airlifted to local hospitals, it took hours for first responders to sort out the exact number of injured and dead. investigators will comb the train's wreckage looking for clues. but today, it's unclear why the tractor trailer slammed into the train. miguel almaguer, nbc news, los angeles. >> back here in new york, a major victory for supporters of same-sex marriage. late friday, the state's governor signed a bill into law, legalizing gay marriage. it's a move that could have nationwide implications. nbc's mara schiavo-campo is here with more. good morning. >> good morning. >> why is new york so significant? this is the sixth state. >> the sixth and the largest. and it's estimated it's going to double the eligible population of same-sex couples that can get married. but it also has a cultural significance. new york is a financial and media center of the world. and so advocates are really hoping this has a much larger cultural impact and that it could re-ignite this movement. >> speaking to that, 41 states nationwide have banned same-sex marriage. >> absolutely. >> do we see what's happening in new york reinvigorating the demand to have that perhaps overturned? >> that puts it in a little bit of perspective. six states have legalized but 41 states are specifically banning it. when you look at the polls you see the numbers of those supporting same-sex marriage nationwide increasing and those opposing it decreasing. and for the first time those opposing gay marriage are less than 50%. for the first time in the country those opposing it are smaller than a majority. when you look at younger generations you see an even bigger gap so a lot of people feel that there's a lot of momentum in favor of legalizing same-sex marriage. >> also of note, this passed in new york with a republican-led state senate. of course there's 4r09s of back and forths. but what happened in the last few days that made this happen? >> there were a lot of back room conversations and deals and negotiations, because some of the republican senators in the new york state senate were very concerned about religious protections. the original bill did say that religious institutions were not obligated to perform same-sex marriages and ceremonies and the like. but they wanted to take things a little bit further. they wanted to protect not just religious organizations and clergy, but affiliated institutions, nonprofits and the like. once they got that it seemed to have the support they needed. >> mara schiavo-campo, thank you. now let's go back to lester. >> now to north dakota. the massive flooding that could reach historic levels. it is a disaster in the making and one that's already prompted thousands to evacuate. nbc's janle klein is in minot for the latest. good morning. >> good morning, lester. people here in minot are waking up to see the level of the river, and they are in disbelief. the river already smashed a 130-year-old record yesterday, swamping 2500 homes. some of them over their rooftops. it's left 11,000 people homeless. a full quarter minot city population to evacuate. and this flood could get a lot worse. any more rain in minot would be disastrous, and there are storms, lester, in today's forecast. >> and janelle, i know they've got a network of levees there. people are not used to this river flooding each year. not like this. how prepared, then, are folks for what's happened? >> they were prepared for some flooding. they know with a lot of rain in the midwest and a lot of snow melt happening this year that they would get some flooding. but certainly not to this extent. as you said, they have levees in place to protect the city, but there is now six times the amount of water that those levees were designed to protect. so they are bracing for a disastrous and heartbreaking flood here. >> all right. janelle klein in minot for us, thanks. once again here's amy. >> lester, thank you. while folks in north dakota are bracing for record flooding, many in the south are being threatened by huge wildfires that continue to burn out of control. tom truong is live in waycross, georgia, with more on that. tom, good morning. >> amy, good morning to you. the wildfire here in the okefenokee national wildlife refuge has burned more than 280,000 acres. we're actually standing next to some of the burn areas right now. and across the south a severe drought is leading to an outbreak of wildfires. more than 700 firefighters are working to control massive wildfires in south georgia. despite their desperate efforts, the weather will dictate the outcome. >> we've had a little bit of rain over the last few days, but not enough to really put this fire out. >> reporter: just over the border, 380 fires are burning in florida. putting enormous strain on the state's resources. >> you eventually get to a point where you don't have any personnel to send to these fires. >> it's going to jump. >> reporter: dramatic video from the camera mounted on the helmet of an emergency worker shows crews driving bulldozers right into the heart of the fire to get containment lines designed to hold back the flames. >> we're in front of the path, and the ultimate goal is to stop the forward, you know, momentum of the fire. so we try to get to the head of the fire, the hottest part. >> reporter: the work is dangerous. friday the first of two funerals, friends, family and fellow firefighters gathered to remember josh birch, he and brett fulton died monday when flames overran their bulldozers in north florida. wildfires are also consuming tens of thousands of acres in north carolina. a state not used to seeing such fires in june. the smoke from the southeast fires is visible from says. this nasa image shows it stretching out to the atlantic, creeping up the eastern seaboard. further west, firefighters are on the front lines in oklahoma, where flames have pushed more than 1500 people from their homes. >> had to go. it's too dangerous down here. >> reporter: part of a fire season many say is burning too hot and too long. and some recent rain did help the situation here and brought some much-needed help. the fire here now is now 60% contained. but the south is in the midst of a severe drought. eight southern states now, amy, are in the grips of it, and they're now seeing extreme conditions. >> all right. thanks so much. from the floods and fires to a major drought, weatherwise, this has been one mean season. bill karins is here to tell us if there's any relief in sight. bill, good morning. >> good morning to you, amy. the extremes divide our country in half. southern half of the country has been too hot and too dry. this map just shows us where the worst drought conditions are. the bright red is the exceptional areas, which is almost all of texas, southern new mexico, and now it is spreading along the southern gulf into areas of south georgia. that's why the fires are getting worse there. now it's time for your summer forecast. the july forecast, just the month of july, drier than normal conditions where the drought is the worst. and we expect wet conditions where the flooding is the worst. so no help, if anything, getting worse through july. actually the summer forecast does call for exceptional conditions with more wet weather in the dakotas. normal wet weather down in the deep south. i think the only thi and a good saturday morning to you. i'm meteorologist chuck bell. we have a partly sunny sky outside on a saturday morning. it will be a very pleasant day to be outside today. temperatures are in the mid-70s in down town. mid-60s in the cooler western and northern suburbs. our forecast for today plenty of sth sunshine. a slight chance of a quick passing shower northern maryland, but not enough to worry about. highs today and tomorrow in the 80s with plenty of sunshine. that's your saturday forecast. lester? >> all right, bill, thanks. peter falk who created one of the most iconic and memorable roles in tv history has died. while he had an accomplished career in films and on stage, it was his role as the detective colombo that brought him his greatest fame. in a world that thrives on police dramas, peter falk colombo was not your typical tv detective. >> my name is colombo, i'm a lieutenant. >> reporter: neither slick, daring, nor tough, just unrelentingly, and sometimes annoyingly, inquisitive. >> oh, listen there's one more thing. >> there is one thing. i'm sorry, sir, just one more thing. >> reporter: but, of course, beneat the rumpled trenchcoat and dim-witted demeanor was a cagey sleuth who always got his man or woman. >> i understand why you did it, miss mitchell. i don't want to have to work you over. >> reporter: in the '60s, his hollywood breakout role was as a killer in the movie "murder inc." which earned him his first oscar nomination. but tv and the role of detective lieutenant colombo made him a household name. >> to the desk, ma'am. colombo premiered on nbc in 1971, and later aired on abc occasionally from the '80s until 2003. >> hit the deck! >> reporter: in 1979 falk made us smile again with an equally oddball character in the movie "the in-laws." in recent years, peter falk was diagnosed with alzheimer's. his last film credit was 2009. but the role we'll best remember him for was as that seemingly clueless detective, who always managed to wear the bad guy down in the end. >> just one more thing. >> no, lieutenant, there is no just one more thing. good-bye. >> we knew him as lieutenant. we knew him as colombo. but we never heard his first name mentioned in the show. word on the street is it was frank. we're back in a moment. but first, this is "today" on nbc. still to come on "today," the mother of the accused. casey anthony's mother cindy breaks down at the murder trial of her daughter casey. what does it all mean for the trial? we'll have the latest. plus overboard. the exclusive interview with three friends whose whitewater rafting trip nearly ended in tragedy. we'll tell you all about it. but first, these messages. what a beautiful live look at the capitol building. good morning. it is 7:26 on this saturday, june the 25th. this morning the bethesda community will honor a woman kill this had a popular yoga shop just a day after the store reopened. lululemon is hosting an outdoor yoga class in honor of the employee found dead inside the store last march. the class will start at 9:00 this morning with a moment silence. murray's co-worker, brittany norwood, is charged with her murder. today vincent gray and eleanor holmes norton are expected to hold a rally held by d.c. vote. it's protesting what calls a congressional overreach in d.c. favors. norton represents d.c. in congress, but she does not get a vote on the house floor. today's rally is between 11:00 and 1:00. we'll check on your forecast next. stay with us. ♪ [ female announcer ] have you ever seen a glacier while sunbathing? why not? have you ever climbed a rock wall in the middle of the ocean? or tried something really wild? why not? it's all possible in the n. royal caribbean's floating nation. where you are free to do anything you want. which may be nothing at all. royal caribbean international. why not cruise from baltimore? visit royalcaribbean.com today. good morning once again. where he do have some clouds outside first thing on a saturday morning, but these are not rain making clouds, so to need to worry about these. temperatures are currently in the mid-60s to around 70 degrees in most of the suburbs. mid 70s around up to. going to be a nice day. plenty of sunshine. just a few fair weather cumulous clouds. highs will be up into the mid-80s. same story with tomorrow only tomorrow we'll haextra sunshine. humidity back on monday. john, back into you. we're headed back to new york to today the join the "today" we are back on this saturday morning, june 25th, 2011. it's just one week before the fourth of july weekend. but already our crowd is getting into the holiday spirit. we want to thank them for coming out to spend part of their day with us. we're going to head outside to say hi in just a bit. but first back inside studio 1a, i'm amy robach. along with lester holt. and still to come this case against casey anthony. >> the last couple days' testimony very dramatic. today is day 28 of the trial and it follows perhaps the most dramatic day yet. casey anthony's mom cindy took the stand, using photographs to try and suggest that caylee died accidentally in the family swimming pool. or at least laying the case that it could have happened. also lee anthony said he didn't even know his sister was breg nantz until just days before the birth. the beginning, perhaps, of more family secrets the defense hopes to bring on testimony. explosive sessions to the jury. what's going to happen today? we'll get a live report from orlando coming up. >> and take a look at this incredible video, it's from the helmet camera of a man who's lucky to be alive this morning. he and his friends were whitewater rafting in colorado when all of a sudden things took a terrifying turn. he and his two friends were stloen into the raging river. they barely escaped. we're going to hear from three of the rafters in a live interview. >> and did you know that betty white is going to be 90 years young? she's still one of the funniest ladies on tv. >> and she continues to work every day on tv land's "hot in cleveland." it's pretty incredible. i had the chance to spend some time with betty, valerie and the rest of the cast of the hit show. coming up we're going to see how these four fab ladies love their work and learn so much from the legendary betty white. she is so much fun to talk to. she's sharp, she's making me laugh the entire interview. wonderful woman. >> she gets better. >> she does. >> we want to begin the half hour with a senseless but shocking crime. a new york man walks into a drugstore and executes four people, all police say, because he wanted prescription painkillers. nbc's peter alexander is live in medford, new york, with the latest on this ongoing story. peter, good morning. >> reporter: lester, good morning to you. senseless really is a good way to describe what happened here. this community is still reeling. this murder taking place at this pharmacy. and among the four people killed, a 33-year-old mother of two, engaged to be married, a woman by the name of jamie testeta. her friends and family were planning to gather in this community, this fall, for her wedding. instead, today, they are here for her funeral where she's going to be buried in her wedding dress. late friday night, a heartbreaking gathering to remember the victims of the worst mass killing in new york's suffolk county in near 40 years. among the four victims jamie testeta, pharmacist david ferguson and his assistant jennifer hahia, who should have graduated from high school this week. >> she was like the sweetest girl. she was so pretty. she cared about everyone. >> reporter: all shot execution style, police say, in a brutal rampage last sunday at this long island pharmacy. the suspect, army veteran david lapper first caught on surveillance tape, then days later by police. the motive authorities say, drugs. specifically painkillers. according to police, after the massacre he stole pills but no money and calmly left. he and his wife melinda brady, were high on drugs, police say, when they were arrested at their home wednesday. both have pleaded not guilty, laffer to first degree murder charges and brady to charges she drove the get in away car and days later grabbed an officer's leg trying to help her husband escape. but shortly after her arrest, brady, looking dishevelled and disoriented blamed her husband for everything. >> he did it. he did all of it. >> reporter: and now, all of this community is mourning this crushing loss. >> this arrest won't bring back raymond, jennifer, brian and jamie. but we are hoping this will provide some sense of closure to the victims' families. >> reporter: and even this morning we've seen several people come by and drop off flowers here. jamie's funeral, again, is scheduled for later today. and lester, worth noting that assistant district attorney says that on monday, a grand jury will convene to consider whether there should be more serious charges filed against david laffer's wife, miss brady. >> peter alexander, thank you. now for a check of the weather, let's go back outside to bill karins. >> good morning, lester. good morning. i'm meteorologist chuck bell. outside of our windows, we do have fair weather clouds drifting by but these are not rain making clouds. no rain is showing up on the radar. and 99% of us will be dry this weekend. temperatures mid-60s in the western suburbs to low 70s. highs today under a mix of clouds and sunshine. and of course we're at the tail end of our graduation season here. and, where do you graduate from? >> high school. >> and this is part of your graduation gift? not a bad little gift, right? if you want your hour by hour forecast you can get that at weather.com. lester, amy? >> bill, thanks. still ahead, river wild. our exclusive interview with the three friends who survived a whitewater near disaster. >> but up next, two years later, on the anniversary of michael jackson's death, his sister la toya speaks out on the tragedy, and how the jackson family is recovering. but first, these messages. ♪ [ female announcer ] now, just pop, click, switch your lids whenever you like! choose from over 20+ colors and designs. the new dell inspiron r series laptops with switchable lids, powered by the 2nd generation intel® core™ processor family: not just smart, visibly smart. call or click to get this fully loaded and totally protected inspiron 15r today! ♪ [ intel bong ] now use the best suncare recommended most by dermatologists. neutrogena®, with technologies like helioplex... it provides the highest average spf and unsurpassed uva protection. get the best. neutrogena®. i didn't understand it. i found out that connected to our muscles are nerves that send messages through the body. my doctor diagnosed it as fibromyalgia -- thought to be the result of overactive nerves that cause chronic, widespread pain. lyrica is believed to calm these nerves. i learned lyrica can provide significant relief from fibromyalgia pain. and less pain means, i can feel better and do more of what matters. [ female announcer ] lyrica is not for everyone. lyrica may cause serious allergic reactions or suicidal thoughts or actions. tell your doctor right away if you have these, new or worsening depression, or unusual changes in mood or behavior, or any swelling or affected breathing or skin, or changes in eyesight, including blurry vision, or muscle pain with fever or tired feeling. common side effects are dizziness, sleepiness, weight gain and swelling of hands, legs and feet. don't drink alcohol while taking lyrica. don't drive or use machinery until you know how lyrica affects you. i found answers about fibromyalgia. then i found lyrica. ask your doctor about lyrica today. it was exactly two years ago today that michael jackson died. a tragedy that will soon lead to the trial of the doctor accused of killing him. in just a moment we will talk to his sister la toya jackson, who has just written a new book. but first a look back at the king of pop, and what life has been like for his family since his death. ♪ to the world, he was an icon, superstar, a spectacle. but to his brothers and sisters, he was simply michael. >> i just wanted to tell you how proud i am of you and how proud i am to be your sister, and how much i love you. i do. oh. >> reporter: and when he died two years ago, his daughter paris reminds us of what he so dearly meant to her. >> ever since i was born, daddy has been the best father you could ever imagine. and i just want to say i love him so much. >> reporter: tears for a father and for all the jacksons. the grieving was deeply personal, yet very public. >> i kissed him on his forehead and i hugged him and i touched him and i said, michael, i'll never leave you. >> reporter: since that day in 2009, the famous clan has struggled with the loss. but in many ways are closer and stronger, as janet jackson told "dateline." >> when something like that happens, you really cherish each and every moment, because you never know what tomorrow will bring. >> reporter: while their lives have changed, the jacksons continue to work. a fact that's been with them since the early days in gary, indiana. >> there are working people with families, with all the challenges that families have, and with a very loving bond. >> reporter: a bond that will soon be tested at the trial of dr. conrad murray. he's accused of giving jackson a fatal dose of a powerful anesthetic. as tough as it will be, katherine jackson vows to be in the court for the duration. >> very difficult just looking at him, knowing that he was there to see after my son, and he died under his care. so that -- that makes me feel really bad. i can't stand to look at him. >> reporter: katherine is also raising prince, paris and bracket, and as she told matt lauer, michael's kids don't have to be reminded of the tragedy. >> they're off doing the things that children should do. i don't talk about it with them. they're young. and i want them to be happy. >> reporter: and for the jacksons, giving his children a normal life may be the most lasting tribute of all. the book is "starting over" and is in stores now. la toya jackson, good morning. >> good morning. how are you this morning? >> i'm doing very well. this morning, today, is a very painful anniversary for you. it is the second anniversary of your brother michael's death. and you dedicate a large portion of this book to him. in fact, you talk about the last years of his life. and specifically, in may of 2009, you say you saw him, you saw how frail and how thin he was. >> yes. >> did the rest of your family have concerns about how michael was looking? >> well, we knew that he was -- he was very -- michael's always been thin. but he was unusually thin, when you hug him you could feel nothing but bones, actually. >> did you all talk about it amongst yourselves? did you talk about it with him? >> yes, yes. but he seemed everything was nine with him. he said i'm fine, i'm healthy. i'm healthier than i've ever been. and he was very happy, actually. >> you made some big accusations in your book. you say specifically referring to michael's death, you write michael had confided in me years earlier that he feared assassination by those who wanted to steal his valuable publishing catalog and estate. >> he felt his catalog, his publishing catalog was so big and he knew that people wanted to get their hands on it. so during this latter part of his life, actually in his mind, it was a matter of when he was going to die. because he told me, they're going to murder me, no matter what. it's interesting, because when you follow the money trail, you understand a lot more of what's going on and what's happening. people that he removed out of his organization positioned themselves back into his life just before he passed. >> so as his sister, you're hearing his fears, he's telling you, they're going to kill me. >> yes. >> what do you do with that information? >> when he first told me that, it was very difficult for me to believe. but then it made sense, when he explained it, it made sense. when he explained it to my mother it made sense. explained it to my father. >> did you go to the authorities at any point? >> it's very interesting when you go to the authorities, nothing can be done until they actually do something about it, which is so sad in today's society, but that's the way it is. his life was very parallel to mine. the people that were there controlled him, they told him what to do, when he was going to do it. and michael's a very -- >> and now the blame has fallen on dr. conrad murray, his physician. you say he's simply the fall guy in a larger conspiracy. >> that's my belief. my belief is definitely that he was the fall guy. he was used to do whatever was taking place. if you understand something, if you're a promoter and you're promoting an artist and you're making sure this artist is extremely healthy, you don't want anything to happen to him, why would you put a doctor in there? you would tell that doctor, don't you dare give this guy anything, anything that would jeopardize this major tour that he's going on. that's going to make them millions and millions and millions of dollars. >> you reference in your book, your marriage to jack gordon who was also your manager from '87 to '96 and you say he controlled most of what he did, including when you in tel aviv said your brother, you believe was guilty of molestation charges. >> yes. >> how do you explain the control he had over you? >> it was a very, very extremely abusive relationship. the book is 80% of this abusive relationship, of controlling you, manipulating you, telling you what to say. my brother, i love him. he knew i loved him. he said i know you would never, ever, ever say. he said i know you have to do that. he embraced me. he hugged me. we cried and said, i love you more. >> what toy yeah jackson, thank you so much. the book is, once again, ts how to take insulin. but i've learned a lot from patients who use flexpen. flexpen comes pre-filled with the insulin i take and i can dial the exact dose of insulin i need. i live my life on the go and need an on-the-go insulin. i don't need to carry a cooler with flexpen. novolog is a fast-acting, man-made insulin used to control high blood sugar in adults and children with diabetes. do not inject novolog if you do not plan to eat within 5 to 10 minutes after injection to avoid low blood sugar. tell your healthcare provider about all medicines you take and all of your medical conditions, including if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. the most common side effect of novolog is low blood sugar. other possible side effects include reactions at the injection site. get medical help right away if you experience serious allergic reactions, body rash, trouble with breathing, fast heartbeat or sweating. ask your healthcare provider about novolog flexpen today. learn more about the different insulins available in flexpen at myflexpen.com. flexpen, insulin delivery that goes with you. but it's our job to make them say something interesting. so how about this weekend we learn some new tricks of the trade... then break out our doing clothes and get rolling. let's use some paint that helps us get the job done in record time and makes a statement when we're finished. we're lowering the cost of a new favorite color. more saving. more doing. that's the power of the home depot. get five dollars off gallon cans of our top paint brands, now through july 4th only. whitewater raftding is meant to be a thrill ride. but when a group of friends hit the rapids of clear creek in colorado last saturday they were thrown into an unexpectedly powerful, and violent, current. caught on video from this helmet camera, sean suffered severe injuries to his legs during the accident. he joins us exclusively from saint anthony hospital in lakewood, colorado, along with fellow survivors courtney and jeff who caught it all on that helmet cam. good morning to all of you. thanks so much for being with us. >> good morning. >> thank you. >> i know you all got beat up by this adventure. sean you took the worst of it. tell us about your injuries and do expect to get back on your feet soon. >> i don't know how soon. the big issue that i've been struggling with is called compartment syndrome. and so essentially, i took a trauma, a large trauma to the leg and it's causing the muscle tissue to swell to such a degree that it can cut off circulation, and damage the nerves, and potentially make me even lose the limb. i've also torn my medial quad head on my left leg. so, i don't really have any muscle strength or ability in my left leg. >> because we know you were dragged along those very sharp rocks in what was really shallow water. courtney, let me see if you can take us back to the beginning of all this. you're about 40 minutes into a run, you hit some class four rapids. you and your friend anna were the first to end up in the water. tell me where things went from that point. >> right. so, we were paddling, we were close to the end of the course, and i remember paddling and then instantly i was thrown into the water. the water is extremely powerful, and i could feel myself crashing against the rocks. >> is that shawn i see reaching for you to bring you up? >> yes, it was shawn and jeff who pulled me in. and i actually ended up fracturing my right foot. but it was definitely the most terrifying experience i've ever been through. >> the two of you ended up back in the boat and then jeff, you guys end up in the water next. correct? >> correct. you know, it was all a blur, seeing courtney and anna in the water was terrifying. next thing you know, i'm trying to comfort courtney and kind of ended up in the water fighting for my life. >> and shawn, i know that one of the things that keeps you in whitewater rafting is if somebody falls out of the boat, control the boat. was it essentially a loss of control of the boat that kept you all in the water at this point? >> why, i believe so. because, you know, we're trying to stay with one another, and i think with the gals initially it was safe to do so. they fell out, right away we had good position on the river. but as soon as we pulled them in, we were starting to get off position in terms of being parallel with the edges of the stream. and so we were just constantly adapting. and then once we went over the next feature, jeff and jerry went in, and i'm looking to save them when i should have, you know, continued to try to save the course and keep the raft mobile. >> and we saw one of those clips -- we see in one of these clips there's somebody behind you in a kayak, and i assume that's kind of a safety position. was that person able to render aid? >> yes, the kayakers are there to give aid. they can provide, i guess sort of a taxi service if they need to pull you out of somewhere. but they're mostly there to kind of guide you, and help you in your moment of panic. kind of figure out where to go. you essentially want to follow them in the direction that they paddle you. >> jeff, you shot this video. it was actually a test to your helmet. what's it like to look at that right now? is it hard to imagine that's you that you're seeing, you and your friends? >> you know, it's pretty intense. that's my point of view. so a lot of that story is what i actually experienced. you know, seeing the girls in the water and then seeing them in the back, you know, with the safety kayakers knowing that they're there, and knowing some other people in the water, it was pretty horrific. but seeing it over and over again definitely makes me remember it. >> listen, i'm glad i could tell you all lived to tell us about. and shawn take care of that leg. i know you've got a long way in your recovery. we appreciate you all spending time with us this morning. >> thank you. >> thanks. >> just ahead on "today," betty white and the ladies of "hot in cleveland." we laugh it up with the cast. but first, this is "today" on nbc. still to come on "today," whitey bulger behind bars. what's next for boston's most wanted man? we'll have a live report. plus what a swimming pool ladder could mean for the casey anthony murder trial. we're live at the courthouse with the latest. what makes hershey's s'mores special? hershey's chocolate goodness, that brings people together. hershey's makes it a s'more. you make it special. pure hershey's. we share. shop from anywhere. and are always connected. we live in a social world. isn't it time we had a social currency to match? membership rewards points from american express. use them to get the things you love from amazon.com, ticketmaster.com, and more unexpected places. they're a social currency with endless possibilities. sfx: bed crashes to floor kids seem to get bigger overnight. good morning... whoa! whoa! and when they do, they're ready for goodnites. the nightime underwear specially designed for kids 4 and up. thought they were dead. [ laughter ] [ grunting ] huh? [ male announcer ] should've used roundup. america's number one weed killer. it kills weeds to the root, so they don't come back. guaranteed. weeds won't play dead, they'll stay dead. roundup. no root. no weed. no problem. taking a live look at the white house, a very cool and pleasant 75 degrees. good morning. it's 7:56 on this saturday, june 25th, 2011. in the news today, family and friends will gather to remember a d.c. woman killed while involved in a religious secretary. she moved to durham, back in december and married pete lucas moses junior. investigators say he shot mccoy during an argument over car keys. he's one of seven charged in connection with mccoy's death. her funeral will be held in northwest washington. and the warning if you plan on doing a little boating this weekend, virginia authorities are cracking down on drunken boaters. it's all a part of the nationwide effort called operation dry water p state officials will be patrolling virginia water ways and performing breathalyzer tests. it's illegal to operate a boat if your blood alcohol level is 0.08 or higher. last year 15 people died in more than 100 boat a good saturday morning. i'm meteorologist chuck bell. we have a mix of clouds and sthin o sne sunshine out there. temperatures in the mid-60s to low 70s around town. 74 in washington. 72 in sterling, virginia. 73 in bethesda, maryland. there is your forecast for today. temperatures by upper 70s late morning. mid 80s for high temperatures this afternoon with a mix of clouds and sunshine. very in the way of rain chances today and almost no chance for tomorrow. the rain comes back monday and tuesday afternoon. but until then, the weekend is looking good. back to you. we'll have another update in 25 minutes. welcome back to another hour of "today," june 25th, 2011. you realize we are halfway through the year? >> wow. >> do you realize six more shopping months until christmas? >> oh, stop it. that is not nice. come on. >> you didn't want to hear that. >> no, i did not. >> i want to thank our great crowds for coming out on a saturday and being with us. stop on by, we'd love to have you. lester holt along with amy robach. coming up we're going to talk about another emotional, this is really a bombshell-filled day in the casey anthony trial. >> right it happened on friday as casey's mother cindy took the stand. she showed a picture of her and casey any tering the swimming pool, and insisted the ladder used to get into the pool was not stowed away correctly on the day that caylee died. and shop pretty shocking testimony from casey's brother lee who said he had no idea his sister was pregnant. what will happen today in court? we're going to head live to orlando to find out. >> then we're going to talk about the man who was once the most feared man in boston and now the former fugitive whitey bulger is back in beantown. they found him out hiding in l.a., years on the run. the infamous mobster was arraigned on friday, and now everyone wants to know, is he going to spill the beans? does he have more secrets to tell? we're going to get more on that story just ahead. >> and then on a much lighter note i got to spend a day with the gals from "hot in cleveland." betty white, valerie bertinelli and the whole gang are back again on the hit show. this morning the cast all talk about their experience and other classic sitcoms and why this one is so special. we're also going to find out how betty white, who will be 90 this year, we actually spoke to her on her 89 1/2 birthday. she is the consummate professional and such a pleasure to talk to and work with. >> "hot in cleveland," they shoot in l.a., but you did this in cleveland. >> the first time all four ladies were actually together in clevela cleveland. the reception was pretty tremendous. >> can't wait to see that. right now another check of the headlines, thomas roberts is inside at the news desk. >> lester good morning. same-sex marriage is now legal in the state of new york. last night, the governor signed the marriage equality bill making new york the largest state to support gay marriage. wnbc's katie turr is live in albany with more for us this morning. katie, good morning. >> good morning, thomas. it's been a long week here in albany, so long, in fact, that some lawmakers were beginning to run out of clean clothes. but late last night, governor andrew cuomo signed the marriage equality act into law at 11:55. the deciding vote came at the last minute from two republican state senators who, in the end, were appeased by strengthened language protecting religious institutions from discrimination lawsuits if they refused to marry same-sex couples. the final vote brought cheers and songs from supporters, while some detractors knelt down to pray. in 30 days, marriage licenses will begin to be handed out here in new york to same-sex couples. thomas? >> it's a big development with pride weekend this weekend in new york city. thank you. investigators are back out this morning in reno, nevada, at the scene of the amtrak collision that happened there. on friday a semi truck slammed into the train, killing the truck driver and a train crew member. dozens of others were also injured. authorities say that they'll look at autopsy results of the driver to determine if drugs or alcohol played a part. and now to north dakota, where they are bracing for more rain and flooding in areas that have already reached historic levels. nbc's janel klein is in minot with the very latest. good morning. >> good morning, thomas. people here in minot are waking up in disbelief. the river yesterday smashed a 130-year-old record and it is still on the rise. it's already swamped 2500 homes. some of them over their rooftops. and left 11,000 people homeless. more than a quarter of minot's city population has now had to evacuate. and this flood is still getting a lot worse. the worst thing that could happen here in minot is more rain and thomas, there are thunderstorms today in the forecast. >> just amazing pictures out of there janel klein. thank you. finally this morning. kate middleton taking part in her first military event since becoming a royal. princess catherine gave out medals to members of the irish guard, who recently served in afghanistan. now prince william is a colonel of the regiment and middleton says that she was pleased to award a group so close to her husband's heart. the couple also released an official portrait for their forthcoming tour of canada and the u.s., which begins next week. going to be in california. very exciting. that's the news for now. back outside to the plaza and amy. >> thanks so much. let's head over to bill karins who is also out on the plaza it is a beautiful saturday morning here in the nation's capital. i'm meteorologist chuck bell. partly sunny skies out there for now and that will be the rule for most of our saturday. these are not much in the way of rain making clouds. so a quick sprinkle can't be ruled out for northern maryland and southern pennsylvania. temperatures now are in the mid-70s around town. upper 60s in most of the suburbs, so partly sunny, low humidity, highs mid to summer 80s. even more sunshine tomorrow with highs a little closer to 90. i want to stop and say hi to my colorado friends. we'll just stay a little bit away. back to you, lester. >> thanks, bill. now to the case against casey anthony. jurors were riveted on friday as cindy anthony and casey's brother testified for the defense, and for the jury, the focus may be on a swimming pool ladder. nbc's kerry sanders is live in orlando with the latest. kerry, good morning. >> well, good morning, lester. prosecutors allege that casey anthony murdered her own daughter caylee. that she used color owe form to poison her and duct tape to murder her, and among the most -- or the strongest circumstantial evidence they presented is that for 31 days after caylee died she didn't alert anyone. she didn't dial 911. but on friday, her own mother and brother came to her defense. at various times friday, 25-year-old casey anthony wiped tears, looked away, and bit her fingernails as her mother -- cindy anthony testified again in this murder trial. >> do you know what that photograph is of, miss anthony? >> yes. >> would you like to take a break? you need a break? >> no, i'm okay. >> can you tell the ladies and gentlemen of the jury what that is? >> a picture of caylee walking up the ladder and i'm behind her holding her. >> with that photo, and more, including one showing 2-year-old caylee all alone, opening the door leading to the backyard pool, the jury listened. as cindy anthony said the day caylee died, the pool ladder was not safely stowed. instead, it was mysteriously up. >> did you come home and notice that the pool ladder was up as depicted in the photograph? >> it was attached to the pool. >> reporter: and then there was this defense question, that was never answered because of a prosecution objection. >> how many times have you advised law enforcement that you thought caylee had drowned in the pool? >> reporter: prosecutors say the accidental drowning defense is made up. the murder, they allege, was calculated an premeditated. three pieces of duct tape over caylee's nose and mouth, her body then dumped in the woods. they murder, they argue, motivated by casey anthony's desire to live the carefree life of a party girl. >> your theory of defense was that this was an accidental drowning, that your client's behavior was caused by sexual abuse at the hands of her father and brother. >> reporter: both her father, and brother, lee, deny sexually abusing casey. how strong was their brother/sister bond? lee testified when his sister gave birth, he was cut off from the celebrations. >> i was -- i was very angry at my mom and i was also angry at my sister. i mean, i was just angry at everyone in general. they didn't want to include me. >> reporter: with the current schedule presented in the courtroom, it's possible by this time next week the jury will be deliberating this case. lester? >> kerry sanders, thanks. with the stunning testimony from casey anthony's mother and brother, did the defense finally plant the seed of reasonable doubt they're looking for? beth karas is a correspondent for "in session" on trutv and a former prosecutor. beth, good to have you back. good morning. >> good morning. >> this photo of caylee and the ladder, and the pool, certainly suggests the potential of a pool accident. but isn't the jury looking for something a little more district in evidence, someone who saw her drown? >> yes. in fact, the jury is going to expepect that the defense wil pt on evidence to support what jose baez said in his opening statement on may 24th, which is that george anthony found caylee, and was holding the dripping wet, drowned caylee in his arms when casey came running around the garage and he yelled at her, and said, look what you've done. and said you're going to spend the rest of your life in prison for neglect, or something like that. the jury expects that he will deliver on that. this is the beginning of that, though. showing that that ladder was up the day that she died. showing the jury that she knew how to climb up the ladder. she was older than in the photos at the time she died. those photos were from the year before. she could climb up on her own, even though cindy used to spot her and make sure she didn't fall down the ladder. so that's the beginning of their evidence. but they need to recreate that scene at the pool where george found caylee dead. >> they're clearly laying a lot of groundwork but i'm frankly not sure for what. take for example casey's brother lee. he's on the stand, he testifies very emotionally about casey's praeg nancy. the family never acknowledged it until days before caylee was delivered. all very interesting. what's it many? >> well, this also is the beginning of something jose said he would prove in his case, and that is that the anthony family is a dysfunctional family with deep, dark secrets. that lee was iced out of the preparations for the birth of caylee, and he was soagery and hurt that his mother wouldn't acknowledge it when he asked her months before caylee was born, and he saw casey look like she was pregnant, and asked her about it, she said, leave it alone. the family was in denial, at least to him. that angered him. he cried about it. and it leaves people wondering whether or not he was crying about more than just that. so that is also the beginning of establishing what jose baez says was a dysfunctional family. >> her family has certainly helped explain away some of the more damaging prosecution testimony. for example the computer search for the color owe form, cindy anthony says oh, by the way, that was my search. the stain in the car. the brother says no, that stain was there before. is it all too convenient or is it helpful to sow that seed of doubt in the jury's mind? >> well, it may resonate with some jurors. so maybe there will be doubt in the minds of some jurors and all twelve will have to agree on whatever crime they convict her of, if they convict her at all. but the stain, the stains in the car were not the same as the police tested on the spare tire wheel cover, and lee acknowledged that. as for the chloroform searches, cindy did tell the prosecutors a year after that she made chloroform searches, but she did not make the searches for how to make chloroform. chloroform was misspelled in that search, as well as other searches at the same time. so there's still evidence for the state to argue it was casey using it and mom was just conveniently taking the fall for her. >> all right. bet caras thanks for keeping us up to date. we appreciate it. we're back in a moment. but first these messages. [ 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. let's do this. you're a little early! [ female announcer ] prepare to ace your dental check-up. fight plaque and gingivitis and invigorate your way to better check-ups. new crest pro-health invigorating clean rinse. you last commiserated with them, four actors who have been entertaining you on television for decades, now the sitcom stars are back, reinventing themselves later on in their careers and becoming truly hot, in, of all places, cleveland. it was a hollywood-style reception, some 2300 miles away. >> betty! >> reporter: clevelanders turned out in full force to welcome the stars of "hot in cleveland." >> i think cleveland is the best-kept secret in america. >> reporter: betty white, valerie bertinelli, jane leeves and wendie malick are no strongers to tv. the funny ladies made their inaugural visit together to the city that put them back in living rooms across the country every week. >> they're sort of looking at us. in l.a. they look past us. >> i like to think of our show as just really delicious comfort food. >> i feel young and hot. like they're undressing me with their eyes and not finding fat. >> the greatest compliment i ever got about the show was a friend came up and said, i just want to jump in that screen and sit on the couch and laugh with you. >> reporter: tvland's first original sitcom, now in its second season, airs in more than 175 countries. the premise is simple, a trio of middle-aged women from l.a. find themselves stuff in cleveland, and take up residency with a widower turned caretaker. >> what are you, like 100? >> i don't like you. aren't you that girl from that show? >> yes, yes, i am. are you a fan? >> no. >> this is about four, mature women and they haven't done a show like this in so long, for way, way too long and there's a hunger for that. i think it's reminding people that they can reinvent themselves at any age. >> but even for us kids it works. >> well, that's true. >> reporter: each one of you has had phenomenal success in sitcoms throughout your career. what do you think it is about this show that makes it so special? >> chemistry. i really think. we fell in love the first day we all sat down together and it was like, oh. oh! it got your attention. >> does anyone else smell pot? >> what are you, a cop? >> no. >> then what's it to you? >> there is no denying the chemistry the foursome has on and off the screen. >> i think he spent the first half hour of the day reminiscing about what we did last night. >> solving the problems of the world. >> some of us are more exciting storytellers than others. >> reporter: betty white, who was originally only supposed to be a guest-star, put her "hot in cleveland" co-stars right up there with her other girlfriends. >> well, first of all mary tyler moore and i have been friends, and then the golden girls, it just is incredible to luck into that. not once, not twice, but three times in a lifetime. >> reporter: did you ever imagine your -- you know you're six months away from being 90, that you would still not only be working, but probably be at the height of your career? >> it's just impossible to realize. i don't know how it happened. but i never fail to appreciate it. and taste it. believe me i'm not wasting a minute. >> reporter: betty white and her co-stars are certainly not wasting any time, no matter their age. all four are still proving they are hot, in cleveland, and around the world. >> so what should we do now? >> i say we go to that bar with the men think we're hot. >> i'll drive. >> i think you know what, you start to feel invisible in california when you get to be at a certain age. i know i was really starting to feel invisible. and this show showed you don't have to be invisible. or you don't have to feel like you're invisible. >> i find that so true in women. the women i look at, who i admire and find sexy, are the women who accepted all, and they're just comfortable with it. >> i think there's no expiration date on being a fabulous broad. and this show, i think, is just that great reminder that -- that with the help, with a little help from your friends you can kind of -- you can sort of redefine yourself. and i think you cannot ask for a better friend to mature with. because betty has reminded so many women out there that they're not done yet. >> it felt like one of those silly, you know, people who feel like they were my friends the moment i walked in. they were just so welcoming and i just watched a bunch of the episodes, laughing out loud. people in the plane were staring at me. >> i admire them. i've not seen the show. >> you need to catch it. it's great. all right we're back. but first, this is "today" on nbc. still to come on "today," after years on the run, infamous mobster whitey bulger is captured. now back in boston. we'll tell you more about that coming up. plus, getting in shape for the summer. what bras do the trick. but first these messages. choice for my patients a with an irregular heartbeat called atrial fibrillation, or afib, that's not caused by a heart valve problem. today we have pradaxa to reduce the risk of a stroke caused by a clot. in a clinical trial, pradaxa 150 mg reduced stroke risk 35% more than warfarin. and with pradaxa, there's no need for those regular blood tests. pradaxa is progress. pradaxa can cause serious, sometimes fatal, bleeding. don't take pradaxa if you have abnormal bleeding, and seek immediate medical care for unexpected signs of bleeding, like unusual bruising. pradaxa may increase your bleeding risk if you're 75 or older, have kidney problems or a bleeding condition, like stomach ulcers. or if you take aspirin products, nsaids, or blood thinners. tell your doctor about all medicines you take, any planned medical or dental procedures, and don't stop taking pradaxa without your doctor's approval, as stopping may increase your stroke risk. other side effects include indigestion, stomach pain, upset, or burning. if you have afib not caused by a heart valve problem, ask your doctor if pradaxa can reduce your risk of a stroke. our noses, or our ears. but they're still our family. and family deserves the best. new petarmor flea and tick protection. it has the same active ingredient as frontline, so it's just as effective against fleas and ticks, but costs about half as much. so, although the family resemblance may not be clear, your bond is unmistakable. new petarmor. same protection as frontline at about half the cost. available at stores near you. what a beautiful start to the weekend. we're looking at a live shot at the white house. between morni good morning. it is 8:26. the lululemon will hold a special yoga class in honor of jana murray found dead inside the store back in march. it starts at 9:00 with a moment of silence. brittany norwood is charged with her murder. today vincent gray and eleanor holmes monorton are expected to attend a rally in front of the white house. d.c. vote is holing te holding protesting what it calls a congressional overreach in d.c. affairs. norton represents d.c. in congress, but she does not get a vote on the house floor. and even is encouraging local children to read. macy's is teaming up with the program reading is fundamental. organizers were out it at the national zoo yesterday handing out books to children. today they will be making donations at the macy's at tyson's corner in northern virginia from 4:00 until 6:00. we'll check on your local forecast next. it almost feels 00 good to be true outside. chuck bell joining us. tell us, is this weather going to stick around all weekend? >> yes, indeed. we're in store for a very pleasant weekend of weather. we could use a little rain, but we can't change that, so we might as well enjoy the sunshine while we can. temperatures are climb up into the upper 60s and low 70s across much of the area. 74 down town. 77 already in frederick, maryland. here is your forecast. partly to mostly sunny sky. we'll have fair weather cumulous clouds drifting by from time to time. high temperatures up into the mid-80s. we'll have even more sunshine tomorrow. nice cool start 65 tomorrow morning, 86 for your sunday afternoon high. humidity and thunderstorm chances start to roll back by monday and tuesday, though. back to you. that's it for news 4 news break. join us in 25 minutes for a full hour and and we're back on this saturday morning, june 25th, 2011. it is shaping up to be a beautiful morning here in new york. we want to thank our great crowd for coming out and spending part of their morning with us, waving to their family and friends back home. outside on the plaza, amy robach along with lester holt. coming up, the capture of whitey bulger. >> it was a pursuit that lasted more than 15 years. a lot of folks thought he'd gone overseas. this morning the mobster who was on the fbi's most wanted list was back in boston, facing charges related to 19 murders. what's next for the reputed irish mob boss? we'll have the latest on that coming up. >> then we'll lighten things up with a little tennis talk. we're going to head across the bond to wimbledon for some match play. and we're not talking about the game. the stars on the court have been wearing some wild and frankly outrageous outfits. look at that. they've also been grunting and screeching. in fact some people say the noise is just too loud. we're going to have that story just ahead. >> the one sport where the players make more noise than the crowd. the crowd is always so quiet at the tennis matches. then this next -- why don't you take this one. >> yeah, you don't want to talk about bras? >> well, i do, but not here. >> oh, we're going to talk about finding the right bra for your summer clothing from tank tops to t-shirts. there are certain types of bras for each shirt. that one, not working so well. coming up, wait until you see these uplifting transformations. >> but we've got a lot to get to before we do that, though. want to introduce some folks, if you're a fan of law and order criminal intent, vinnent d'onofrio and katherine erbe. great to have you both on. nice to see you. thanks for coming on. it's the end. the end of the show. >> yes. the last season. >> season 10. and you mention only eight episodes. in what other ways has this season been different for you? >> we had so much fun. not that we didn't have fun before. but, we were rested and excited to be there. and to be back with our crew. and we had fantastic story lines. great guest stars. and just had a really, really good time. >> is there a little bit of denial right now that the show is actually coming to an end? >> yeah, it's hard. i mean, they're still airing. and the reruns go on forever so yeah, it's a little strange. but you know, there's life afterwards. >> the final season wouldn't have been the same without you. what made you decide to come back? >> well, dick asked. he asked us to come back. so we came back. he wanted to finish the show off right. and so he brought in a chris brankato who is the writer, and the producer, been with us for years before. and we just had a really good team and we knocked out eight really good shows. >> playing the same character for so long are both of you excited about being able to do different things, different acting challenges? >> yeah. >> yes. >> you're going to be onstage? >> iage right now, yeah. at the atlantic theater company doing two ten-minute plays. a brand-new sam shepherd monolog monologue. it's very fun. >> what will you all remember most about your time? >> i think our partnership will be for me. i mean, you know, and all the hard work. you know, and all the people that we spent ten years with. i mean, that will -- and also one of the things, the last shot of the show a couple weeks ago when we finished, we both talked to the crew. we were out on the street. it was the perfect ending to the show. you know, one of the -- the only thing that came to my mind was that we created this show, this iconic show that people will know forever. >> it will live on in reruns forever. >> you've got a lot of fans. one of them right here. we're sorry to see you guys by. you can walk the final episode of "law & order: criminal intent" sunday 9:00 p.m. on the usa network. >> time for a check good morning. i'm meteorologist chuck bell. bright sunshine here in northwest washington under a party sunny sky. looks like it will be a wonderful day to get outside anden joy pand anden enjoy perfect summer weather. mid-70s now. 71 in martinsburg, west virginia. highs today climbing up in to the hid 80s under a mix of clouds and sunshine. more sun tomorrow with a high in the upper 8 that's your weekend forecast. have a great weekend, everyone. >> all right, bill, thank you. he was a mobster wanted for multiple murders and a man who was on the run from the fbi for about 16 years. but that all changed this week with the arrest of james "whitey" bulger. and his capture brings to the end one of the longest manhunts in modern u.s. history. nbc's jeff rossen is here now with more. jeff, good morning. >> hi, lister. good morning to you. he really faced the judge for the first time on friday. one of his first times back in boston since his disappearance. when asked if he could pay for his own attorney by the judge, he said, yes. if you give me my money back. police seized $ 00,000 when they arrested him. but this morning, new questions about whitey bulger's brother, who happens to be a big-time boston politician. what did he know? whitey bulger came home friday as a prisoner. he was, perhaps, the most feared man in boston. at 81 years old, he's accused of murdering and torturing at least 19 people. including steven davis' sister. >> you know, i would have been more glad if i found him. >> reporter: in his old neighborhood, bulger is legendary, woven into this city's fabric. >> check around, a lot of the locals here, you know, think that whitey is a big hero. >> reporter: back in the day, whitey bulger ran this liquor store. locals say he punished people in the basement. >> people minded their business. nobody knew the extent that he was doing things. but they just knew you stayed out of his way. >> reporter: bulger allegedly ran boston's irish mob, and worked as an fbi informant. digging up dirt on his competition, boston's italian mob. he was the inspiration -- >> all right. >> reporter: for -- for jack nicholson's character in "the departed." but in this case real life is far more intriguing. just as investigators say whitey was ordering hits, his brother billy bulger was rising in state government. president of the massachusetts state senate, and later president of umass. he came to court today to see his brother. billy has always denied any knowledge of whitey's alleged crimes, or where he's been hiding. msnbc's lawrence o'donnell grew up nearby. >> you would not be asked questions about what your brother does, because too many people have brothers doing things that i couldn't explain. >> reporter: but those pesky questions never went away. even at a 2003 congressional hearing. >> i do not know where my brother is. >> not telling him where he was, i look at it. >> everybody knows everything. and same old, same old. >> reporter: you think billy knew? >> yeah. >> reporter: billy bulger released a statement expressing sympathy to all of the families hurt, but said he will not comment any further. by the way, remember whitey bulger was also an fbi informant. many believe he actually had accomplices inside the fbi. so if he cuts a deal with prosecutors, lester, and talks, a lot of people are worried it could open a whole new can of worms. >> all right, jeff, thanks. talk radio host and boston herald columnist howie car was once a target of whitey bulger's. his new book about bulger's enforcer is called "hit man." great to have you on. >> great to be on, lister. >> how did you get on whitey bulger's bad side? and what was your reaction when you heard he was caught? >> i got on the bad side by writing about his brother. and he took it very personally and supposedly put out out a contract on me. and i hadn't worried about being physically harmed since he went on the lam back in 1994. but i was happy to see him captured. i was just surprised he was captured in the u.s. i thought he had long ago left america and was in europe somewhere. >> he was wanted, as you know, for several murders, and many see him as a monster. but others, i know, in boston, see him as a bit of a folk hero. how would you characterize some of the reaction you have heard up in boston? >> well, i think there is that, the remnants of the old robin hood myth about him. but i think anybody who's studied the case, or anybody who was on the streets for more than ten minutes knows that this guy was a psycho path. i mean, he had a partner named steve fleming. he strangled both of his girlfriends who were in their 20s. this woman, catherine greig, that he was traveling with, for all those years, he murdered both of her ex-brothers-in-law. the guy killed -- you know, he's up for 19 murders. but he probably killed a lot more people than that. he flooded the streets of boston, south boston, with cocaine. you know, you have these fools saying he kept the drugs out of southy. they're not connected to reality. >> what do you make of the way they caught him? this tip that apparently came from running ads? >> well, you know, the fbi is defending it and saying it wasn't a setup job, that they didn't know. all i know lester is in the old days when j. edgar hoover was running the bureau, when they got a line on a guy, that put him on the fbi's ten most wanted list, and say that, you know, they wanted to catch this guy, ten minutes later they catch him. it certainly is a coincidence, isn't it, that they begin running these ads and less than a day later, he's in custody? >> it did happen very quickly. and finally i've got to ask you, do you think bulger is going to talk? he was an fbi informant. do you think he's got more to sing about that might help him? >> no, i doubt he'll go to trial, actually. most of the fbi agents that he compromised, they've either retired or they're dead, or in the case of one of them, one of them is going to prison in florida this week for 40 years for a murder that whitey and the fbi agent and a bunch of others conspired in. >> howie, good to talk to you. thanks so much for joining us. >> howie, good to talk to you. thanks so much for joining us. we're back in a moment. a diabet cator >> howie, good to talk to you. thanks so much for joining us. we're back in a moment. is teaching my patients how to start taking insulin. and i've learned a lot from patients who use levemir flexpen. flexpen comes pre-filled with my long-acting insulin, and i dial the exact dose of insulin i need. my flexpen is discreet and doesn't need to be refrigerated. and flexpen goes wherever i go. levemir is a long-acting insulin used to control high blood sugar in adults and children with diabetes. do not take if your blood sugar is too low. tell your healthcare provider about all medicines you take and all of your medical conditions, including if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. the most common side effect is low blood sugar. other possible side effects include reactions at the injection site. get medical help right away if you experience serious allergic reactions, such as body rash, trouble with breathing, fast heartbeat or sweating. ask your healthcare provider about levemir flexpen today. learn more about the different insulins available in flexpen at myflexpen.com. flexpen, insulin delivery that goes with you. but it's our job to make them say something interesting. so how about this weekend we learn some new tricks of the trade... then break out our doing clothes and get rolling. let's use some paint that helps us get the job done in record time and makes a statement when we're finished. we're lowering the cost of a new favorite color. more saving. more doing. that's the power of the home depot. get five dollars off gallon cans of our top paint brands, now through july 4th only. get f♪ve dollars off gallon cans we can't guarantee she'll always mind her table manners. can't guarantee she'll be much help with the yard work. we can't guarantee she'll stay out of your personal space - not that you'd want her to - but we can guarantee that petsmart grooming... ...will make your dog look great. try us today. with the petsmart grooming look great guarantee , you're happy... ...or it's free. petsmart. happiness in store.™ you know rheumatoid arthritis means pain. but you may not know it can also mean destruction. not just of your joints, but of the things you love to do. and the longer you live with the aching, swelling, and stiffness, the closer you may be to having your favorite things... taken away from you. but you can take action today. go to ra.com for your free joint profile so you can better talk to your rheumatologist about protecting your joints. over at wimbledon, the players continue to wow the crowds will world-class tennis. but the sets are being overshadowed by some sizzling and shocking fashion styles. and then there's the grunting. for some fans the noise from the court has become simply unbearable. nbc's kir simmons is in london with more. good morning. >> good morning, amy. wimbledon is, of course, a british tradition. but this year i have to say some of the players are looking a lot less traditional. this week one u.s. player has paid as much attention to her outrageous jacket, than her racket. if tennis was all about tailoring, it would be game, set and match to bethany this year. on court, and off, the 26-year-old american has been dressing like lady gaga. they share the same designer. her friends say she loves the attention. >> it's just her expressing her individuality. she likes to be a little bit different. >> the problem is she can only wear that dress once. >> reporter: across the courts, under wimbledon white the women have been wearing colors. not just making a noise with their clothes. this was yesterday's noisy match between victoria as reng ka, and daniela hantuchova. lafter from fans. a far cry from wimbledon past. but in time the players became more colorful. >> you cannot be serious! that ball was on the line! >> reporter: and now officials admit, they cannot turn the clock back. >> they're young people. no one can constrain them with slightly old-fashioned, fuddy-duddy, maybe, approach. but that's not to say that we don't value tradition. >> reporter: even the fans are different these days. flying the flag on sneakers. very british. >> if it gets everybody talking people and interested in tennis, that's all well and good. >> reporter: your headband is definitely going to get people interested. >> i hope so. >> reporter: the famous faces, the fashions, the furor over bad behavior onsort. it's all what makes wimbledon, well, wimbledon. but ultimately it's all about great tennis. another outfit causing a stir this week, venus williams wearing what looked like wings. but it was winning that brought her sister serena to tears after a difficult year of injuries. whatever you wear at wimbledon, whether you win or lose, it's how you play the game. and, amy, experts are saying it's hard to predict which woman will win. that's the most exciting thing about wimbledon this year. all of a sudden i'm thinking about having a few tennis balls attached for my suit the next time i'm on the air. >> if you want to make headlines there you go. thanks so much. coming up next, the perfect fit, the right bra for your summer clothes. but first, this is "today" on nbc. t-shirts, tank tops, sundresses, all the best summer styles can also lead to some of the biggest bra faux pas. here to help fix our mistakes is jannae, author of "the bra book." good morning. >> good morning. >> let's get right to our makeovers, because lots of problems to address. >> oh, yes, especially in the summertime. >> first up is michelle. she's wearing the wrong bra with her t-shirt. and this is a very common mistake. >> big mistake in the summertime. you know, you want to wear those nice, thin tees. her in her before picture we're seeing every lump and bump, even some that she doesn't have, so the bra is just fitting so poorly. so her fix is -- >> right there. wow. big difference. >> yes. the fredricks of hollywood extreme cleveland bra. it makes a great:shirt bra because it molds to her shape, it's full coverage, has lots of support, convertible and has molded removable pads. >> gives you a little boost that way. >> exactly. a little boost. i just want to mention that all the models are in summer styles that i found through shop it to me dotcom which is a great online personal shopper that scours online sites to find when the items go on sale in your size. really great summer trends. >> we're going to move on to our next summer bra problem. this starts when you're wearing a tank top. especially one with a dramatic neckline or wow, that's very wrong. >> you know, the showing your straps is a big debate. we talked about this last time i was here, amy, and the one shoulder style is so hot. so we really need the right bra for it. so she is in the wonder bra three degrees of hot, ultimate convertible. and actually converted it by putting the strap over her one shoulder. >> oh. >> so it's actually just fits perfectly. it has adjustable cleavage, actually added a full cup size. >> it's a huge difference. it helps with the halter tops, too. you can do just about anything. >> exactly. how we're going to move to jamie. we want to be cool and comfortable. especially our next model who just had a baby. jamie, congratulations. so what's wrong with the bra she was wearing? >> jamie wants to wear these light and airy tank tops like we all love, but she has, you know, she's nursing and she needs enough support and a full coverage bra. so here you're seeing the bra completely. here's her after in the bali comfort revolution wire-free bra. believe it or not it's full support, comfort and shaping without an underwire. so it's perfect for nursing. she doesn't have to worry about the underwire pressing against her breasts. it's flexible for when she needs to nurse and it's so comfortable she can even sleep in it. smoothing on the back and the sides and the wide straps. again she's in a great summer look. >> and the next problem we have sometimes, the plunging neckline and whoopsy, i see the bra. >> obviously here for cristas you're seeing the mistake right off the bat. instead of giving her the obvious plunge bra, which is something like adlynn is wearing. i put her in the barely there custom flex fit bandini which can be worn a bunch of different ways. it has built-in foam cups for support and comes in lots of fun colors. color blocking is a big trend this season so we kind of color blocked for her. and comes in extra small through extra large so it's really easy to find the right fit. >> thank you so much. great tips for all of us. we're back. 'm phil mickelson, pro golfer. if you have painful, swollen joints, i've been in your shoes. one day i'm on p of the world... the next i'm saying... i have this thing called psoriatic arthritis. i had some intense pain. it progressively got worse. my rheumatologist told me about enbrel. i'm surprised how quickly my symptoms have been managed. [ male announcer ] because enbrel suppresses your immune system, it may lower your ability to fight infections. serious, sometimes fatal events including infections, tuberculosis, lymphoma, other cancers, and nervous system and blood disorders have occurred. before starting enbrel, your doctor should test you for tuberculosis and discuss whether you've been to a region 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. get back to the things that matter most. good job girls. ask your rheumatologist if enbrel is right for you. and finally, you can rely on secret for mineral-activated odor protection with new secret natural mineral. the naturally derived ingredient neutralizes odor instead of just masking it. new secret natural mineral. now use the best suncare recommended most by dermatologists. neutrogena®, with technologies like helioplex... it provides the highest average spf and unsurpassed uva protection. get the best. neutrogena®. [ female announcer ] now, just pop, click, switch your lids whenever you like! choose from over 20+ colors and designs. the new dell inspiron r series laptops with switchable lids, powered by the 2nd generation intel® core™ processor family: not just smart, visibly smart. call or click to get this fully loaded and totally protected inspiron 15r today! ♪ [ intel bong ] that's going to do it for us on this saturday morning. thanks to thomas roberts and bill karins. tomorrow on "today," the very latest from the casey anthony murder trial. >> and summer health myths. we'll refute some of those. i'll see you tonight on "nbc nightly news." good morning. straight ahead on "news 4 today," new york becomes the latest state to legalize gay marriage. we'll tell you when same-sex couples will be able to say "i do" in the empire state. and a deadly crash involving an amtrak train and a tractor trailer. we'll have the latest. and i'm meteorologist chuck bell. i'll be along with a complete check of your weekend forecast which does include the mention of some sunshine. stay with us. >> all that and more when you join us for "news 4 today" in less than two minutes. about [ 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. want to save evemore? call now and we'lldd over 60 premium channels, including showtime, starz, epix, and more for 12 months. fios is a 100% fiber optic network. it delivers superior picture quality, the best channel lineup, more hd, plus america's fastest, most consistent and reliable internet. and there's no annual contract required. why keep paying for cable? move up to the best. get fios tv, internet and phone for just $99.99 a month for a year, plus over 60 premium channels for 12 months. don't wait. call 1.877.729.fios. call the verizon center for customers with disabilities that's 1.877.729.3467. at 800-974-6006 tty/v. or for other great fs offers, visit us online. get the network that delivers more. get fios. a network ahead. an historic vote late at night while you were sleeping, this morning became the latest state to legalize same-sex marriage. thanks for joining us this morning and welcome to "news 4 today." >> it's saturday, june 25th. and the news is straight ahead, but first let's check in with chuck bell. the sun is out finally. >> people are loving you today. >> they are. i felt the love on twitter. can always follow me this. and people have been sending me nice messages saying thank you. a couple reminders from people saying we need the rain. gardens are on the crispy side. but to one wants to hear about the rain that we need on the weekend. we can do ou

Related Keywords

Nevada ,United States ,Tel Aviv ,Israel ,California ,New Mexico ,Washington ,District Of Columbia ,Prince William ,New Brunswick ,Canada ,Massachusetts ,Hollywood ,Martinsburg ,New York ,Ireland ,Baltimore ,Maryland ,Waycross ,North Carolina ,Colombo ,Western ,Sri Lanka ,Afghanistan ,Texas ,Boston ,Florida ,Virginia ,London ,City Of ,United Kingdom ,Oklahoma ,Emeryville ,Colorado ,Pennsylvania ,Atlantic Theater ,North Dakota ,Paris ,Rhôalpes ,France ,Italy ,Italian ,America ,British ,Irish ,American ,Venus Williams ,Steve Fleming ,J Edgar Hoover ,David Laffer ,Peter Falk ,Eleanor Holmes ,Toya Jackson ,Janelle Klein ,Cleveland Betty ,Janet Jackson ,Kate Middleton ,Catherine Greig ,Beth Karas ,Andrew Cuomo ,Daniela Hantuchova ,Jana Murray ,Chuck Bell ,Jack Gordon ,Whitey Bulger ,Thomas Roberts ,James Whitey Bulger ,Katherine Jackson ,Casey Anthony ,Matt Lauer ,Pete Lucas Moses ,Melinda Brady ,Kerry Sanders ,Dell Inspiron ,Robin Hood ,David Ferguson ,Cleveland ,Los Angeles ,Janel Klein ,Cindy Anthony ,Eleanor Holmes Norton ,Jack Nicholson ,Brittany Norwood ,Steven Davi ,Tom Truong ,Michael Jackson ,Phil Mickelson ,Lester Holt ,Conrad Murray ,Amy Robach ,Msnbc Lawrence ,Jeff Rossen ,Peter Alexander ,George Anthony ,Mary Tyler Moore ,Brett Fulton ,Billy Bulger ,Jose Baez ,Lee Anthony ,