And, did he leave them laughing . Al takes us behind the scenes of his star studded uso tour for our troops overseas. Wednesday, october 8, 2014. Announcer from nbc news, this is today with matt lauer and savannah guthrie, live from studio 1a in rockefeller plaza. Good morning. Welcome to today on wednesday morning, im matt lauer along with tamron hall, al roker and natalie morales. Its not often we begin a show by mooning you. Look at the blood moon. That is a picture of the moon from earlier this morning. Coinciding with the hunter moon, this is a full moon in october they call it the hunter moon. Much more coming up but that is our new logo for the day. Lets get to our top story on this wednesday morning. Doctors at the Nebraska Medical Center turning to an american who survived his bot well ebola for help treating a journalist infected with the virus. Kate snow is in omaha with the latest. Good morning to you. Reporter good morning to you, matt. Brantlys blood is being administered to ashoka mukpo. His father telling nbc news this act of kindness makes him believe in the goodness of humanity. Dr. Kent brantly was on a road trip driving when he got a call from the Nebraska Medical Center. His blood type happens to match ashoka mukpos. Doctors asked him to donate blood hoping his antibodies would start his immune system. Doctors asked where are you. They found a place for him to pull over in kansas city, then flew his blood to omaha. Its not the only treatment they are trying. Ash 0 o k0 ka is receiving a dr. What is so remarkable, so untested. Thats very true. I think each patient is different. They receive different products. So we really are in sort of a brave new world. In dallas they are trying the same on Thomas Eric Duncan. His family tried to visit him. They were told his condition is critical but stable, but it would be too risky for them to get too close. The head of the cdc says no one duncan came in contact with ill. We know how to stop it. Breaking the chain of transmission. In spain a new question raised, can a dog transmit ebola . After a nurse tested positive, Spanish Health officials ordered her dog you euthanized, afraid he could carry ebola. Her husband begged them to reconsider. Overnight the campaign went viral save excaliber. Can dogs transmit ebola. Even the cdc was asked. We have not identified this as a means of transmission. Reporter what we know for certain is that ebola is transmitted human to human. We know from previous experience that the blood coming from a survivor can potentially really help someone in the throes of the disease. Thank you very much. Now to california where the pilot of an air tanker has died fighting a wild fire near Yosemite National parks. His plane crashing into a canyon wall. Miguel almaguer is in the entrance of yosemite. Good morning. Reporter good morning. In a few hours the National Transportation safety board should have investigators here on scene. For now fire Officials Say they dont know what caused this plane crash. But overnight they did discover the unidentified pilots body. The crash site is in a burn zone so rugged it took investigators hours to locate the wreckage and the pilots body. The st2 lost contact battling the fire near yosemite. It dropped off the radar after 4 00 p. M. All units, resources responding to the dog rock incident. Reporter air units scrambled to find the downed planes. Hikers heard the crash. It was dumping water and crashed against the rock. Reporter one in a fleet of 23, the grewman was converted to drop 1200 gallons of retardant reaching speeds of 270 miles an hour the single pilot planes are used for initial attack, when fires first break out when conditions are at their worst. We flew with cal fires top fire chief over hot zones where the aerial attack can be dangerous. There are power lines, there are trees, rock outcroppings, all of this while they are dropping retardant at low altitudes. Reporter this is cal fires first afr fatality since 2006. Other crashes including this contracted plane that went down in 2002, has raised questions about aging air fleets. Still, this morning, cal fire says tragedies like this one are rare. A sad day for firefighters everywhere. The crash site is said to be at the top of a 25foot 100 live. Investigators are trying to work their way there. They hope to have more later today. Thank you very much. The fbi is asking for your help this morning hoping that someone will recognize the militant in the latest isis propaganda video. Investigators say they believe he may be from the United States. Nbcs justice correspondent Pete Williams has more on this. Good morning to you. Reporter matt, good morning. Analysts have been trying for two weeks to figure out who that man is but with so lit tool go on they are asking for public help hoping to generate valuable tips. The fbi has a simple question does this man look or sound like someone you know . Were in the 17th Division Military base just outside the city. Reporter he appears in the latest isis propaganda video released september 19 with most of his face hidden he wears desert camouflage and shoulder holster. Behind him he says are syrian soldiers later seen the tape says being executed. Investigators say he sound likes he is from the u. S. Or canada. You can see them digging their own graves in the place where they were stationed. Reporter he speaks english and arabic. On its website the fbi posted a short excerpt from the full 55minute video. Not only is video produced in english t people who produce this produce in english. Its done in order to recruit westerners and particularly americans. Reporter the fbi is asking for tips about any one else who may be planning to travel overseas to join violent terror groups. U. S. Officials have long feared that americans would join up with isis in syria, then seek to return to the u. S. To plot attacks here. A similar concern in london where Police Arrested four men tuesday accused of planning an act of terrorism there. Police say one of the menned that recently returned from syria, and uk and u. S. Authorities say knives were found when the men were arrested. Investigators are looking whether the men were planning to carrious isisinspired beheadings on the streets of london. The fbi asked for public help before in identifying suspects but rarely for terrorists overseas and asking for public help now one official says no piece of information is too small. Pete williams, thanks very much. Al is tracking a storm bringing heavy rain and possible flooding to the southwest. Thats right. This is really the remnant low that Tropical Storm we were talking about yesterday, simon. It is now pushing its moist into the southwest, tempe, arizona dry now but the potential for flooding exists. The reason for this, as this sem pushes up it could be dropping from 1 to 3 inches of rain as that moisture moves up into the rockies. And in fact, we could be looking at up to 3 to 4 inches of rain causing rapid flash flooding, isolated. If you any just the southwest has to worry about this. This streams into the plains and the midwest, could drop from 3 to 4 inches in that area as well. Thank you. Your local forecast 18 second. A Court Appearance today being watched by People Associated with the National Football league. Pro Football PlayerAdrian Petersons appearing in court for the first time today facing the Child Cruelty charge that has derailed his career. This is even more allegations of wrong doing have now surfaced against him. Gabe gutierrez is in conrose, texas. Good morning. Reporter good morning. Peterson arrived moments ago with his mother. These are live pictures inside. He is expected to plead not guilty. For a player once considered a shooin for the hall of fame his season and public image hang in the balance. This morning superstar running back Adrian Peterson is on defense. The goal is simple. To get Adrian Peterson exxon rated so he can return to the football field during the 2014 season. Reporter one of the nfls marquee players charged with to a child as he disciplined a child with a tree branch. The vikings let him keep playing. Then. We made a mistake. And we needed to get this right. Reporter about face as a series of Domestic Abuse allegations rocked the nfl. Corporate sponsors like nike cut ties. If he doesnt begin to show hes learned something from this he is not going to have an audience. Reporter adding to petersons image problem a report in the star tribune that he fathered at least six children out of wedlock and was investigated for rape in 2011 after a night of drinking with four women at a minnesota hotel. He was never charged. But in the Police Report also obtained by nbc news, petersons uncle told a detective he use add Company Credit card to reserve the room. Overnight peterson tweeted that the company, all day incorporated, is different from the all Day Foundation his charity. Petersons attorney also saying peterson nor his uncle had a Foundation Credit card and that peterson did not use the charitys funds for personal expenses. The vikings say that peterson will remain off of the field until this legal case is resolved but he is still getting paid more than 11 million a season. If convicted he faces up to two years in prison. Natalie. All right. Gabe, thank you. A Chicago Police captain is recovering this morning after he was shot during a gun fight tuesday night. Police say one of the suspects is dead, another in custody after a 6hour standoff at an apartment building. The 58yearold captain shot in the head and shoulder is in stable condition. Police say the incident started as officers tried to arrest a man wanted for multiple shootings in indiana. The season is officially over for a new Jersey High SchoolFootball Program amid accusations of bullying and harassment. The board of education affirmed the superintendents decision to cancel the entire season at sayreville war memorial high school. Before the vote some Football Players took to the podium to plead with Board Members to save their season. After the meeting about 100 players and parents gathered on the field. It affects all players from varsity down to the freshmen. Now to a cage diver who put some teeth in her work. Take a look at these spectacular pictures of a great white shark. They were taken off the coast of south africa. The woman is a teacher from new jersey. Amanda brewer was in south africa collecting data. The sharks are beautiful, she says, she wasnt even a little bit frightened. But we all are frightened for her. I like the sound effect we put in there. In a cage you would have heard a different sound out of my mouth. Those are good. She is a teacher so imagine how cool her students think. Back to the classroom. Mr. Roker. Lets show you what weve got going on. Yesterday Severe Weather firing up. We were telling you about those. This is near paris, kentucky, just south of the ohio kentucky border where they had at least an ef 1 tornado. No injuries but a lot of damage, a lot of people without power this morning. You can see were looking at showers in Northern New England, wet weather central and southern florida. Beautiful along the los angeles coastline, Southern California temperatures getting up in the low 80s. Were going to get to your local forecast coming up in the next 30 seconds. You notice a few things. Like the fact that youre pretty attached to these. Ok, really attached. And thats alright. Because well text you when your package is on the way. Were even expanding sunday package delivery. Yes, sunday. At the u. S. Postal service, our priority is. Was. And always will be. You. Good morning, meteorologist christina loren. Time now 7 14. Want to show you really cool imagery here. This is time lapse from the lick observatory. We had a total Lunar Eclipse this morning and, yeah, you can still see whats left of that full moon out there. So really cool stuff to show you this morning. Temperatures are cool as well. Were in the 50s across the board. Headed towards comfortable afternoon. Tomorrow well cool you off even more so, 84 for the south bay. 70 in San Francisco. Coolest day of the week looks like friday. And thats your latest weather. Tense moments overnight at the home of actor steven column lijs. This after it was revealed that the star of shows like seventh heaven is under investigation for alleged child molestation. Hally jackson has the latest on this. Good morning to you. Reporter good morning, matt. Reporters have been camped out since use of the sexual molestation allegations first surfaced tuesday. The investigation is on going and late tuesday night a scare for many who say they heard what sounded like a gun shot from inside the house. Police say it was a false alarm and say they even face timed with the actor to confirm he is not hurt. Police responded to Steven CollinsLos Angeles Home late tuesday night, where reporters waiting for the actor who they believe to be inside, say they heard what sounded like a gun shot. The l. A. P. D. Says collins was not home at the time and is alive and well. Collins is best known for playing reverend camden on the show seventh heaven. But in a 3. 5 minute audio recording tmz says collins is heard admitting to molesting three young girls. Tmz claims it was from collins now estranged grant during a therapy session. That same year grant file forward divorce from collins after 27 years of marriage. In Court Documents obtained by nbc news grant says in a therapy session steven admitted that he has engaged in a long term pattern of sexually abusing minor children including sexually molesting three young girls over a decade ago. Collins has not been charged with any crimes. The documents say one of the girls was from los angeles, two from new york, both between 10 and 14 years old. Nypd spokesperson confirmed the report was filed and special victims unit is investigating. Law enforcement sources in los angeles say police investigated grants complaints in 2012 but unable to complete a crime report because there was no verifiable victim. Andy niemann said the lapd is taking another look, quote, we are reviewing the case to make sure that we didnt miss anything and allow fresh eyes to take a look in light of the recent developments in new york. In a statement to e news grant denied any roll in the release of the tape. Per their request in connection with a criminal investigation. Nbc news reached out to collins and his lawyer for comment on the investigation. But they did not respond. Collins resigned from a board position with the screen actors gui guild. Matt, back to you. Thank you very much. Carson is here with a spectacular sight in the sky were all talking about. Hello. Blearyeyed. A shot of the Lunar Eclipse. The blood term is a religious term. You knew that. I did. Online people are geeking out about this. This is the red, you get the sun, the earth t moon aligned and then you see the suns light passing through the Earth Atmosphere landing on the moon hence the redness. Started around 4 45 eastern time. There is a nasa shot. We have the they streamed the eclipse live. We have a logo here in the orange room. Thought i heard you howling. This is the series of the four lunar events that we saw happen, one in april, heres today, we wont see this again until next april and one in september. That is four in a row. Happening in the span of 18 months. From 1600 to 1900, we never saw any so its cool right now. Some great live shots. The wildlife in australia you see there taking in the sights. If youve got pictures were getting a bunch. Guys back to you. Good use of music. Nice job. Coming up, the exclusive, we hear from the boy who recorded this video of police smashing his mothers car window and using a taser on her boyfriend. Plus, oscar winner Jennifer Lawrence breaks her silence about photos stolen from her icloud account. Why she says its not a scandal, its a crime. First, this is today on nbc. Coming up, why more Business Travelers are turning to air bnb and why some are crying foul. What a cost of an engagement means. There is a study for that. Divor ouch. How much money do you have in your pocket right now . I have 40, 21. Could something that small make an impact on something as big as your retirement . I dont think so. Well if you start putting that towards your retirement every week and let it grow over time, for twenty to thirty years, that retirement challenge might not seem so big after all. Father impersonating drdarth vaderc children, i am your father we all have a disney side, and the best place to show it is disney parks. So come to the place where the entire family can laugh, let loose, and play together. Disney parks. Come on. Its time to show your disney side. birds chirping softly in background. loud engine sounds what hows it going . Heard you need a ride to school. I know just the thing to help you get going. Power up with new cheerios protein. 4 hundred million Vacation Days go unused every year. Thats the stupidest thing ive ever heard. Theyre paid Vacation Days. If you guys agreed to travel more well all do better in school. Well have a better understanding of other cultures. I will learn to parler francais. Oui oui. Were not asking for much we just want one more day. On