this morning, his twin brother and fellow astronaut remains on the ground as part of a scientific experiment that could one day send a man or woman to mars. and the elite eight. four more teams advance keeping the dream alive, michigan state upsetting oklahoma next stop the final four. the best teams tip-off for that chance today, saturday march 28th, 2015. welcome to "today" on saturday morning. >> nice to see everybody together this morning. lester is enjoying the morning off. you can only imagine the relief foray manned a knocks and her family seven and a half years after this case this episode. >> that's true. a lot of people were surprised when the news came down overnight. >> that's right. we want to get to our top story, amanda knocks. she was acquitted of murder charges by italy's highest court. she spoke briefly from seattle, her home making an emotional statement how grateful she was to finally have her life back. kelly cobiella is in rome where the ruling came down. good morning. >> reporter: good morning, peter. this was a stunning decision late last night. the case against amanda knocks and her former boyfriend now closed. the judge's decision could not have been clearer. wiping out the convictions and ending knox's ordeal in italy for good. now exonerated with her murder conviction overturned amanda knocks broke her long silence late friday night. >> i am incredibly grateful for what has happened for the justice i received for support i had from everyone and i am so grateful to have my life back. >> reporter: at italy's highest court, deliberations lasted more than ten hours. late friday the five judge panel overturned both murder convictions. >> this was a mistake, it was a mistake from the beginning. should have not waited all these years. >> reporter: it has been nearly seven and a half years since meredith kercher was sexually assaulted and stabbed to death in italy. knocks and her former boyfriend were convicted of her murder in 2009 acquitted in 2011 then convicted again last year. since knox's tearful return home after the acquittal, she seemed to move on with a memoir a job at a newspaper, and last month an engagement. although she told matt in 2013 she worried about prison she said she also had hope. >> there's no trace of me in the room where my friend was murdered. there's traces all over the place of the man who actually did this. rudi gud awas convicted, his dna was everywhere. >> reporter: the end of a long legal road no retrials no extradition, no more appeals. >> meredith was my friend and i'm the lucky one. >> reporter: in a statement, the kercher family said the decision came as a shock but they were ready to accept it. back to knox peter, we have it on good authority she now looks forward to returning to italy one day as a free woman. >> that's remarkable. thank you very much. the criminal case as we noted is now closed but there are still plenty of questions about what happens next for both amanda knocks and her former boyfriend. theodore simon is amanda knocks's attorney in the u.s. and carlo della ved da helped her get her freedom in that courtroom. gentlemen, good morning. congratulations, we appreciate your time. carlo, i want to start with you if i can. out of the gates, you were the one that called amanda knocks from italy to her home in seattle and broke the news the conviction was overturned. can you tell us more about that conversation that phone call? >> good morning to everybody and thank you very much. the first conversation of course she was very happy, crying couldn't say anything. she didn't expect to have a decision in the merit, because we are at the level of supreme court, this is one of the possibilities. we were preern ating that the supreme court decided not to retry her and take the decision to put the end to this story. so at the beginning, the first conversation with a man she was so happy could hardly speak. >> full exoneration in a case like this is extremely rare there were a series of options available to the justices in italy. give us an understanding how surprised you were by this clean acquittal. >> well we were looking for this. the surprise was partial. we had acquittal already before and it is a difficult case but at the end what matters was the evidence. there was no evidence. so we are clear contest tags of the motivation how the conviction was structured had to fail. we explained it to the supreme court and this has been recognized. actually the last conviction had more lack and contradiction on motivation so we were surprised but welcoming this decision. >> ted, this is a ruling seven years in the making four years of which amanda knocks spent behind bars. is this saga legal saga finally over? >> first i would say for clarification, extraordinary legal cudos are due and extended to carlo and lucy her long time italian lawyers that successfully argued the appeal responsible for giving her back her freedom. what i would say today is that this decision from the court announces once again to the world and with absolute finality that amanda knocks was previously wrongfully convicted and now rightfully acquitted and that she was not, absolutely not responsible for the tragic loss of meredith kercher. and just as amanda said yesterday, let us not forget that meredith was amanda's friend. i know amanda and her family want you to remember meredith and keep the kercher family in your prayers. it is a remarkable proper jus verdict. i know today is a day to be thankful and appreciative. and amanda knocks and all her family and supporters extend enormous gratitude, appreciation and thanks. >> thank you both very much. again, congratulations, gentlemen. investigators are still searching for answers at this point about the co-pilot who intentionally crashed that plane into the french alps. this morning there are newly published reports raising more questions about whether warning signs may have been missed. nbc katy tur is in germany this morning. good morning. >> reporter: in some ways these revelations have been revealing. for instance was this premeditated. they still don't know. right now investigators do have somewhere to start at least as they search this home. as recovery workers comb through the french alps painstakingly collecting debris and parts of victims, german prosecutors are combing through the life of the man they say caused it all, co-pilot andreas lubitz. carrying boxes of evidence and computers from his homes in dusseldorf and month bar, they say they found evidence he was ill, including doctors notes excusing him from work the day of the crash. notes he should have given to the airline, instead in pieces in a trash bin. the torn up sick note says the prosecutor support our assumption that he hid his illness. the prosecutor's office wouldn't elaborate what illness the doctor's note excused him for, but a hospital confirmed he was examined in february and as recently as march 10th. the hospital says they did not treat him for depression. today, germany's biggest tabloid quotes a woman who claims to be his ex-girlfriend. according to the paper, lubitz told her last year quote, one day i am going to do something that will change the whole system and everyone will know my name and remember. it is a claim nbc news cannot confirm. back at the crash site families mourn for 16 high school students two babies mothers, fathers, brothers sisters, daughters, and sons trying to find peace now that the worst is done. >> i don't feel anger, i am really sad for the father the parents of that young pilot. >> reporter: "the wall street journal is reporting that note was from a neuro psychologist for depression. nbc news hasn't been able to confirm that. while it might be a lead, it is important to note doesn't mean he will commit suicide, let alone homicide especially on this scale. >> katy tur, thank you. dr. ryan sugarman conducts mental health exams in the u.s. good morning. >> good morning. >> you conduct screenings for the faa. are you confident the current process allows you to detect whether a person is mentally fit to be at the controls or be in charge of hundreds of lives? >> i personally have confidence in the ee valtive system in the usa. i can't speak to the international way they're conducted, but in the u.s. the process for pilot application is fairly rigorous for current pilots that hold a medical certificate, if any concerns about their safety arise, if they receive any medical treatment, they're obligated to report that to their airline and to the faa which will trigger further evaluation. >> part of the issue could lie on whether a note is passed on as we see in this case. if someone is deemed unfit by a doctor is that doctor allowed by law to contact the airline, say i have reservations about this person maybe they shouldn't be in the cockpit? >> if a doctor has significant concern about public safety then there are instances in which the doctor can contact the faa and take measures to ensure public safety. >> so that can happen. is there anything then you said you're confident with that process in the u.s. we understand you can't speak to what happens in other countries, but should there be more consistency given there's so much international travel? >> sure. so obviously each country can adopt their own standards but there is a field of aviation medicine aviation industry neuropsychology, conferences held annually. i think this is an on-going area like anything elsewhere there's room for improvement and where coordination of efforts is definitely important between various countries and how these assessments are conduct. >> appreciate your time and expertise this morning. thank you. >> my pleasure. a decorated police officer in boston was injured overnight after a deadly shootout that took place there. sheinelle has more of that news. >> yes. good morning. a boston police officer seriously wounded in a shootout overnight was honored by president obama last year. police say 34-year-old john moynihan is fighting for his life after he was shot during a traffic stop. the suspect was killed by other officers. back in may moynihan received top cop award at the white house for his role in the gunbattle with the boston marathon bombers. a driver that helped 35 children evacuate a burning bus is called a hero. the quick thinking driver noticed smoke coming from the engine when she arrived at the school friday and swiftly got the kids off the bus. even tried to put out flames herself with an x continuing wisher. two children were treated at the scene but didn't have serious injuries. authorities are investigating a hang gliding accident. a 12-year-old boy and instructor were killed when it crashed into a dry lakebed south of las vegas. police say the instructor and experienced hang glider was with the boy at the time of the accident. more follow-up over hillary clinton's use of private e-mails while secretary of state. friday the head of the congressional committee investigating benghazi says clinton's lawyer informed him her e-mail server was wiped clean after she turned over work related e-mails to the state department. secretary of state john kerry ordered review of record keeping at the state department as a result of the scandal. american astronaut scott kelly arrived safely at the international space station. the soyuz capsule successfully docked overnight and the trio got an enthusiastic welcome once the hatch opened. he will spend 372 days aboard the laboratory twice as long as a standard mission. more on this next hour. >> one year in space. >> that's a big decision to make to be away for your family. >> two daughters at home. going to be a long trip but historic one. dylan is here with a check of the weather. welcome back. >> thank you. where have i been that i just realized the kelly brothers are twins. it all makes sense now. good thing for the mustache. let's look at the weather pattern, you're getting used to it, weave seeing it for months. we have a huge dip in the jet stream it is keeping things cold down south. last thing you want to see as we finish march, we have freeze warnings hard freeze warnings near nashville. that's more for plants because as they're start to go bud with a couple of warmer days then you get that hard freeze and it halts things. look how cold it is. 21 in cincinnati 28 in nashville. pittsburgh only 15 degrees. slightly milder in the mid-atlantic. going through the day, we will be running 15 to 25 degrees below average. nashville not even hitting 50 degrees today. we have light snow across eastern long island. it is a slushy snow not going to accumulate more than on the grassy surfaces. could see enough accumulation to say enough with the snow. this cold air will continue good saturday morning. clear skies except around the north bay. a little bit of patchy fog to start. highs close to 80. mid 70s around san jose and over towards napa. close to 70 in san francisco. as we finish off the weekend you'll see the temperatures around san jose climbing into the low 80s and cooler and breezy approaching tuesday and webs as the rain stays off of the north. cooler temperatures. once we get out of the weekend. to spring, 32 degrees outside. still to come in case you missed it we have highlights with the download. first, this is "today" on nbc. on this saturday time for the download. the biggest most interesting stories. >> yours and yours alone. it is nearly impossible to see every story out there during the week we get it. every saturday morning we give you what you need to know. in just a few minutes, starting with a look back at the horrific tragedy in france. >> chilling evidence this plane crash in the french alps was a deliberate act. >> the pilot is heard leaving the cockpit. he tried to get back in locked by the co-pilot who ignored him. the things andreas lubitz kept hidden are emerging. torn up doctor's notes declaring him unfit to work. investigators are now analyzing reports lubitz suffered from depression. >> sergeant bowe bergdahl. >> this war isn't worth the waste of human life. >> today he was charged. >> desertion. >> the war on terror rages on in the middle east. >> isis has its sights set on yemen. >> the u.s. has withdrawn military advisers. >> at home. >> a group calling itself the islamic state division posted names and addresses of 100 u.s. military. >> robert durst remains under suicide watch in new orleans. >> the judge ordered durst held without bail. >> anybody would be a fool to think there wasn't a connection between the final episode of the series and the arrest of mr. durst. >> the 2016 presidential race now officially under way, with ted cruz being the first to announce candidacy. >> i am ready to stand with you to lead the fight. >> senator cruz how are you feeling after making the announcement? >> invigorated. >> we are certainly ready for going forward, doing everything we can to turn the country around. >> very personal announcement. >> angelina jolie revealing she had preventive surgery to remove her ovaries. >> to reduce her chance of getting cancer. >> cancer took her grandmother, aunt and mother. >> i feel at ease with whatever will come not because i am strong but because this is part of life. >> in music, one direction says good-bye to one of its members. >> new direction for one direction. >> he told the band's 37 million followers on facebook i have to do what feels right in my heart. harry styles can be seen wiping away tears. >> and march madness heats up teams battle in the sweet 16. one wisconsin player is going viral after his stunt at a press conference. >> gosh she's beautiful. did you hear that? all right. so we will open up the questions. >> got to love that moment. we were talking earlier this morning, it is tough to not think about this plane crash. we have been following it all week and there are so many unanswered questions, there was an interesting piece, a friend of mine posted on facebook a woman took a flight the next morning wrote this post in her gut she was worried about getting on the plane, she knew at that point probably being on a germanwings plane was likely the safest place to be. the pilot welcomed every person. once they sat down the pilot got on said look we don't have to be here today, the company said you don't have to be here we are all here, upset, we have questions like you do. i want you to know i have kids wife family. we are going to get you there safely. we are trying to understand it too. she said it was amazing, everybody clapd. nobody was on their phone or reading the paper. it was an interesting and real moment in all these questions that we have. >> in these days flying just yesterday, you look at the cockpit longer than you used to. >> absolutely. >> eye contact. i thought about that. we all travel a lot. sometimes you get on and off, sometimes you see them and you nod, you want to make eye contact and say thank you when you get off. powerful story. >> not to be lost in this the issue of mental illness in this country and around the world, one we will keep focusing on. let's talk about happy things for a moment. late night for guys and a lot of women, great time of year for sports fans. >> the big dance. >> you have to love this moment took place in wisconsin. they have been having fun with the stenographer at the games, trying to give tough words. saying anti-disestablish men tarnism. then he looked at the stenographer gosh she's beautiful. your best open mike moment. >> my goodness. >> you know what i had turned off my mike to run to the bathroom in one of my first markets, forgot to turn the mike back on when i came onset. i got screamed at to the point i will never turn a mike off. always a good moment. always very careful. >> i love the fact after he was caught he goes oh. like a four-year-old. like oops. >> he was sweet the way he said it oh, my gosh she's beautiful. >> 6'8" 250. a good moment. still, getting to the bottom of a racist chant from university of oklahoma. what the school is now saying about where the chant was first learned. >> . s the 5:26 saturday morning. some patchy fog. good morning to you. thanks for joining us. >> good to be here this morning. >> you have a look at our forecast. >> a little cool by our standards. as you saw folks in the east coast appreciate these high temperatures. 40s and 50s outside. patchy fog in the north bay and if you're traveling south that's where you'll find the fog. our temperatures, 40s and 50s 8:00 as we head towards lunchtime. you'll see mid to upper 60s and warm inland around san jose and livermoore close to 80 and temperatures tomorrow trending warmer. san francisco mid 70s for your sunday and clouds begin to roll in wednesday. >> 60s, 70s, 80s, looks good. we begin with continuing coverage of the killing of san jose police officer michael johnson. it was an emotional night as more vigils were healed in his honor. one attended by the gunman's family. the united vietnam neighbors organized this vigil. they wanted to show their appreciation for his service and sacrifice sacrifice. more than 100 people gathered near the site. they paid tribute to johnson and said amazing graze. on tuesday night an armed suicidal man on center road. police say as they approached 57-year-old scott dunn nam shot and skilled the officer without warning. they're morning the loss of both men. >> we feel like we're caught in the middle. we're mourning forjohnson's partner shot and killed dunam. he suffered from depression and alcoholism. hundreds of people gathered at the city hall to remember johnson. ♪ did you know you're my hero ♪ >> thanks to all police officers but especially officer johnson who made the sacrifice to keep others safe. most of them didn't know johnson personally. they just wanted to honor his life. make sure you stay with nbc bay area for continuing coverage. you can find the latest updates on nbcamerica.com. coming up the wwe are in town and we'll show you how they made their presence known throughout the bay area. that's all your top stories coming up and the weather. we'll send you back to "the today show." are you or are you not the messiah? >> i am. >> we are back on this saturday morning, march 28th 2015 with a scene from nbc's upcoming series ad the bible continues. this is getting huge buzz airs next week on easter sunday. coming up we are going to look at some of the faith based movies a lot of people will be watching as we approach easter and passover. this morning, look outside, people celebrating this beautiful saturday a little chilly. we head out to the plaza in a bit to say hi to everybody. spring will have sprung we are confident at some point. not yet. >> there are buds in the trees at my house. >> almost there. >> it is a start. >> seen a couple tulip leaves coming out of the ground. >> we get a tease, but it goes away. >> cherry blossoms coming to d.c. soon. also coming up a story you have to see to believe. your doctor could be high stoned and treating you at the same time. jeff rossen has a startling look at how some doctors are putting their patients at risk by drinking and doing drugs and still seeing patients. >> that's a wake up call there. a little later, controversy swirling around girls creator and star after she wrote an article asking readers to jokingly identify if she was referring to her dog or jewish boyfriend. made a long list. it has a lot of people talking. we will get into more of that. we are going to begin this half hour with the investigation into that racist chant by fraternity members at the university of oklahoma. this morning, the national headquarters of sae says it is actively investigating local chapters to see if the chant that was caught on camera is being said or used anywhere else. all of this as the university disciplines more students and concludes its look into where the students first learned that chant. here is nbc's gabe gutierrez. >> reporter: this morning, the university of oklahoma's investigation into this racist chant is over after more than 160 interviews. about two dozen students have been disciplined. two were expelled. the chapter shut down. >> i think the important thing is that you take strong swift action. >> reporter: ou's president says members of sigma alpha epsilon learned it four years ago at a cruise sponsored by the national fraternity. >> over time the chant was formal liezed by the local chapter and taught to pledges. >> reporter: he says about a dozen high school students part of the recruitment activities were exposed to that chant while on the bus. >> we have zero tolerance for racism in america. >> reporter: levi petit has formally apologized. >> bottom line the words said in that chant were mean hateful and racist. >> reporter: in a written statement, sae confirmed the chant was shared at a past leadership conference but said our investigation to date shows no evidence the song was widely shared across the broader organization. today on campus many students are eager to move beyond the scandal. >> you can't expel every person who, you know was involved and i don't think you should try. i think it is more about healing and changing people's mind sets. >> reporter: some still question whether the chant was more widespread nationally. >> if this comes out to be 100% true and bona fide says a lot about the organization. >> reporter: for "today," gabe gutierrez, nbc news norman oklahoma. getting another check of the weather from dylan who is out on the plaza. good morning. >> good morning guys. a decent day across most of the country. out in the west very much above average. look at the southwest, temperatures 20 degrees above normal. 92 in vegas, 96 in phoenix, san diego, 80 degrees, san francisco, 72 with that wind off the ocean. tomorrow is warm as well. a little cooler than it is today. still looking at temperatures 15 to 20 degrees above normal. we have a little light snow back through missouri. hard to believe this morning with that high pressure bringing in some of that colder air. also light snow across the new england area where we could end up with a dusting to an inch on things are looking pretty calm around the bay area. a little bit of patchy fog for the north bay. temperatures climbing to the mid to upper 70s. close to 70 in san francisco. upper 70s around santa rosa. and about the same for pleasanton and the temperatures climbing before things cool with a few extra clouds approaching tuesday and wednesday of next week. >> i wish i had my bright yellow jacket on today. there's a lot of yellow on the plaza. >> we are here foray awareness, a chronic people disease that one in ten men or women suffer from. we are going global women around the world are marching, here with end oh me tree owes is foundation. >> we are lucky to have you here today. thank you so much for being here. guys back inside. >> good showing by them. good work. >> dylan, thank you. next is your doctor stoned. this is an eye opening account from one doctor that says he would pop up to 100 pills a day while still seeing introducing new flonase allergy relief nasal spray. this changes everything. new flonase outperforms the #1 allergy pill so you will inhale life. when we breathe in allergens our bodies react by over-producing six key inflammatory substances that cause our symptoms. the leading allergy pill only controls one, flonase controls six. and 6 is greater than 1. so roll down your windows, hug your pet dust off some memories, make new ones. new flonase. 6 is greater than 1. this changes everything. after brushing listerine® total care strengthens teeth, helps prevent cavities and restores tooth enamel. it's an easy way to give listerine® total care to the total family. listerine® total care. one bottle, six benefits. power to your mouth™. some questions can't wait until morning. so i'm one of many nurses at cigna with answers anytime, day or night. i'm lauren, and i've got your back. ♪ ♪ (ee-e-e-oh-mum-oh-weh) (hush my darling...) 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(the lion sleeps tonight.) woman snoring take the roar out of snore. yet another innovation only at a sleep number store. this morning on rossen reports, is your doctor abusing drugs or alcohol? before you answer that question wait until you see what "today" national investigative reporter jeff rossen found. >> we trust them with our lives. they take care of us operate on us but doctors, they're just people too. government studies show at least 100,000 doctors, that's one in ten working today, are addicted to drugs and alcohol. some of them accused of the outrageous performing surgeries while stoned injuring even killing unsuspecting patients. before you head to the doctor's office watch this. you're watching a violent crash in progress behind the wheel, a drunk doctor reportedly heading to see patients when she flew over this median and smashed into traffic. in fact we found cases across the country, all of these doctors busted for abusing drugs or alcohol. >> there are doctors out there now under the influence of prescription narcotics, putting patients at risk. >> steven lloyd should know he was one of them opening up in a rare interview and admitting everything to us. >> at my worst i was doing 100 pills a day, vicodin. >> you were taking 100 pills a day. >> yes. >> and you were seeing patients. >> i was seeing patients. >> it is frightening. >> very frightening, frightening to talk about it with you now. >> dr. lloyd was an internist working in a hospital er. he says for physicians scoring pills is easy. i have ak cyst and every friend is a doctor. >> they wrote you prescriptions. >> absolutely. >> people would say i would know if my doctor was on pills. >> you like to think so truth of the matter is my patients didn't know i was using. >> he says he was never accused of harming a patient while stoned but other doctors have. >> next best doctor is neurosurgeon dr. chris tore duntsch. >> seen in this infomercial, once billed himself as the best neurosurgeon in dallas. this is one of his former patients jeff cheney. >> you can barely walk. >> correct, and it is painful. >> he went in for what the doctor called routine back surgery and came out partially paralyzed. >> it is my understanding that he was under the influence while performing surgeries. >> cutting into people. >> yes. cutting into me. >> he claims the doctor was stoned while operating and removed part of his spinal cord. >> he turned me from a strong healthy man into a crippled man. >> a dozen other patients say the doctor botched their surgeries, too, turning some into paraplegics and quadriplegics, confining them to wheelchairs. according to lawsuits these two patients died after he operated on them. >> is that the kind of bottle he had under his desk? >> in this deposition one of his assistants testified he often drank at work. >> there was a bottle of vodka under his desk. >> then one of his friends described his drug use. >> there's been lsd, there's been cocaine. >> the doctor denies wrongdoing but when he was under oath he kept saying this. >> i take the fifth. >> have you ever been under the influence of cocaine while you were taking care of a patient. >> i take the fifth. >> he declined our request for interview and wouldn't answer the door when i showed up at his home in dallas. but he later called me to talk. but said i wasn't allowed to record his voice. >> have you ever taken drugs or alcohol within a few hours of a surgery? no. you deny that. while he hasn't been charged with any crime and the state medical board found no evidence he was on drugs or alcohol during surgeries, his license was revoked because he violated a standard of care. dr. lloyd says it is all too common. he's been clean for ten years and says his fellow physicians need to take responsibility like he is now. >> and i am not saying there's not consequences if i harmed a patient, a patient sees this interview and figures that i harmed them then there's a price to pay for me for that. >> and you're willing to pay that price. >> of course. part of getting better with addictive disease is owning mistakes of the past. >> believe it or not, there's no federal law requiring doctors to undergo random drug testing like airline pilots. lawmakers in california tried to pass a law making it mandatory for doctors after major mistakes or accidental deaths but the bill was voted down recently. victims advocates will continue to fight to get random drug testing. >> that's so eye opening and unreal. >> you were saying you're afraid of doctors anyway. >> doctor person that kind of makes me not want to be one. >> which is unfortunate, there are so many people out there obviously that are not under the influence. >> i come from a family of doctors, you have to be your own advocate. any time you go to a medical facility you have to ask the right questions. be your own advocate. >> his point was the doctor was so candid with us and we thank him for that really pay attention, anyone can be fooled. >> great report. thanks. up next. how running helped save one woman after she lost her husband, a navy pilot. many wrinkle creams come with high hopes, but hope... doesn't work on wrinkles. clinically proven neutrogena® rapid wrinkle repair with the fastest retinol formula available, it works on fine lines and even deep wrinkles. you'll see younger looking skin in just one week. stop hoping for results, and start seeing them. rapid wrinkle repair... ...and for dark spots rapid tone repair. from neutrogena®. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ there are 16 fresh-picked oranges squeezed into each bottle of tropicana pure premium. and absolutely no space for added sugar, water or preservatives. tropicana. we put the good in morning. ♪ caress presents a fine fragrance breakthrough. . . . . . the world's first body wash with fragrance release pearls. touch your skin to release fragrance up to 12 hours. new caress love forever. for an unforgettable fragrance up to 12 hours. this morning in our series run for today, there's no question a lot of people turn to exercise and running to help them deal with pain that can come from trauma in their lives. >> the woman you're about to meet did just that hitting the pavement in memory and honor of her late husband. >> reporter: for colleen o'hare running always a passion took on new meaning when her husband, a navy pilot was killed on a test flight. >> it allowed me to process grief. >> reporter: suddenly a single mother with three children under the age of four colleen found new strength in her miles. >> there was a grief counselor that i had be going to said the only way beyond grief is through it. okay. this is my way. >> reporter: she and her husband ray had been training for a 195 mile relay race before his death. one month after the accident colleen laced up with friends and family. >> the last leg was the whole team and i did feel at that time that he was with us and i felt proud, that he would be proud of me too. >> reporter: 15 years later, she's still running, but no longer solely as a way to process grief. over the years, colleen's miles have taken on new meaning. >> i tend to run alone. i find when it is just me and the elements sometimes just stopping and taking a second and looking at the world around me i see it in a different way. >> reporter: in 2014 she ran the boston marathon raising nearly $11,000 for bringing ham women's hospital. a few weeks later, finished a relay for children of fallen patriots foundation which helps children including colleen's own kids pay for their college education. >> gives them a chance to see even though their dad died almost 15 years ago, it still matters. still matters to people. >> it just seems like something people wouldn't care about much. sorry. but to see that everybody cares so much. >> reporter: this year elizabeth, now 18 and her siblings 19-year-old katie, 15-year-old tommy, will run this 500 for the fallen relay with their mother. >> i am excited because not only to experience everyone else being there and their emotion but as a family we've never done a race together. >> reporter: lieutenant commander raymond o'hare is buried at arlington national cemetery where the race will finish on memorial day. >> have you thought about what it will be like here at the end of your race? that relay memorial day will be like for you guys? >> i am sure it will be very powerful it will be so patriotic, so many other people have gone through similar situations. >> i think it will be emotional, being in arlington makes me feel like a part of him is still here. >> reporter: a relay to honor a husband, father and so many others who gave their lives, and reminder of that first relay 15 years ago that helped colleen find her footing in the wake of unbearable loss. >> i feel so blessed, i am able to be out there and running because i know a lot of people can't. >> the 500 for the fallen relay takes place over memorial day weekend, starts in massachusetts and ends at arlington national cemetery. they're all running, colleen and her three kids that last leg together. meantime before that colleen and her oldest daughter katie are joining us in new york running their first half marathon with us in central park. we have been so inspired by all of the stories you shared with us and why you run, that's no reason to stop. keep them coming. use the #runfortoday. >> their dad would be so proud of his kids those daughters. >> that's what colleen says he really would be. great family. >> great story. up next we head to the orange room for simple solutions to problems like is there a song stuck in your head? the brain freeze? ever get that from ice cream? we are back with answers. this is "today" on nbc. ♪ ♪ ♪ back now on a saturday morning. if you ever suffered from brain freeze you know how awful it can be. >> we think we have a solution. sheinelle is in the orange room with that and other tips to get through that and other pesky situations. >> these are unscientific cures or body hacks we found, compliments of mandatory.com. they were so good we had to share. here we go. according to mandatory.com, if you want to take care of that brain freeze eat something too cold put your thumb on the roof of your mouth might help. finish that ice cream pop, go like this. we have another one. you have that song stuck in your head. let me show you how to fix it. we have a puzzle here. try working on a puzzle. apparently it will focus concentration and get rid of that annoying one. and who knew this solution was simple. blow on your thumb. you'll feel more relaxed. you all have that groggy feeling whether you wake up. drinking coffee before you hit the sheets leads to a better nap. sipping caffeine before dozing off for 20 minutes restores you more than napping alone. >> that's why it is a nap, it is coffee. >> probably doesn't kick in right away. >> it works. >> take a sip of coffee, you going to take a nap? still to come on "today," to infinity and beyond. it is not buzz light year. astronaut scott kelly is starting his year in space. could it lead to a mission to mars? is it humor or anti-semitic. what some call a ♪ ♪ ♪ (under loud music) this is the place. ♪ ♪ ♪ their beard salve is made from ♪ ♪ ♪ sustainable tea tree oil and kale... you, my friend, recognize when a trend has reached critical mass. yes, when others focus on one thing you see what's coming next. you see opportunity. that's what a type e does. and so it begins. with e*trade's investing insights center, you can spot trends before they become trendy. e*trade. opportunity is everywhere. if you can clear a table without lifting a finger... you may be muddling through allergies. try zyrtec® for powerful allergy relief. and zyrtec® is different than claritin. because it starts working faster on the first day you take it. zyrtec®. muddle no more™. it's 9:56 saturday morning. hazy skies over dublin this morning. good morning to you. we're here with a look at our climate forecast. >> a nice drive in from the east bay. not much fog to san jose. but along the coast patchy clouds and the wind direction coming in on the direction weakening tomorrow which will lead to temperatures climbing up. cool start, 40s and low 50s right now. 76 this afternoon in san jose. san francisco close to 70 this afternoon. and north bay temperatures. mid 70s. now towards the try valley and 78 degrees later on and the long range forecast is going to bring up the temperatures and finish off the weekend. san francisco tomorrow mid 70s. low 80s, san jose. tuesday and wednesday it will bring us cooler temperatures. slightly cool. >> a little bit of everything. warming trend. >> warmer for the weekend. >> rob thanks. we begin with continuing coverage of the killing of san jose police officer michael johnson. it was an emotional night as more vigils were healed in his honor. one attended by his gunman's family. the united viet neighbors wanted to show their appreciation for his service and sacrifice. more than 100 people gathered near the site where he was gunned down. they stopped for a moment of silence and sang amazing grace. tuesday night san jose police responded to a call about an armed suicidal man on center road. police say as they approached 57-year-old scott dunam shot and killed officer johnson without warning. dunan's niece told us she was at the vigil to mourn the loss of both. >> we're mourning for the officer and our uncle. >> he suffered from copd depression and alcoholism. and also many gathered at city hall to remember officer johnson. ♪ did you ever know you're my hero ♪ >> the night was filled with prayer and thanks to all officers but especially johnson who made the asacrifice to keep others safe. they wanted to honor his life. we hope you'll stay with the bay area for continuing coverage and you can find the latest updates on nbaareairnbaareabay.com. the stars of the wwe are in town this weekend and we'll show you how they made their presence now known. i think i missed a big day at the station yesterday. >> hulk hogan was here. >> oh my god. >> missed it. >> too cool. we'll have that plus all your top stories at 7:00. right now we'll send you back to "the today show." texas. utah. wyoming. it's saturday march 28th. here's a look at today's stop stories. finally free amanda knox speaking out briefly on the italian high court ruling that acquitted her. it's the end of a long legal road who was convicted twice of murder. finally allowing her to begin a new life. warning signs this morning new questions about the mental health of the co-pilot of the german plane that crashed into the alps. some reports claiming he was being treated for depression. the latest on that from germany and a year in space. the mission is underway as scott kelly begins a year at the international space station. this as scientists study his twin brother onth to study the effects on the human body. could it lead to a breakthrough for a future mission to mars? >> good morning. welcome back to today on a saturday morning. we stepped outside to join the crowd on this spring morning. one more time. let me hear you. >> there we go. >> it's hard to scream that loud this early. >> let's warm it up on this saturday morning because it is frigid. >> nice to be here. you were off last weekend. a much deserved weekend off. >> every six month trip to vegas. got that out of the way. >> i'm not a big gambler. that sounds terrible but i like playing games. >> a lot to get to. we have the latest on amanda eex knox's reaction overnight on her acquittal of murder charges. >> she's speaking out after she was acquitted. we have it in roam this morning where the ruling came down late friday. good morning. >> good morning to you. the murder case against amanda knox is now closed. those supreme court judges completely exonerating both her and her former italian boyfriend last night. a man da knox emerging from her home in seattle surrounded by family and her fiance for just a brief statement saying she was grateful and talking about the victim. >> she was my friend. and i'm the lucky one. >> reporter: knox was accused of murdered her roommate. she was acquitted and then convicted again last year after more than ten hours of deliberations here in rome they overturned the last verdict and said these two people did not commit the crime. the victim's family said they were shocked by the decision but they accepted it. this is the final ruling here. no appeals. no retrials. case closed. and sheinelle, we have it under good authority that amanda knox now looks forward to coming back to italy. >> that's an interesting note. thank you. now to jeremy where new information is surfacing about the co-pilot who brought down a german plane in the french alps. >> reporter: good morning. investigators are trying to piece it all together who was the co-pilot and who could have been motivated him. as recovery workers comb through the alps picking up debris and body parts, investigators here are combing through his life and his apartment. so far they've recovered doctors notes that excused him from work the day of the crash. they were ripped up enstead of given. "the wall street journal" is reporting they were written by a neuropsychologist who was treating depression. we have not been able to confirm that. reports also from an exgirlfriend who says he told her she was planning things big that he would be remembered for. also not able to confirm that. investigators are taking all of this into account to figure out who he was, why he did it and whether or not they could stop something like this from ever happening again. she neil? >> thank you. authorities in new york are investigating whether a third person is missing in a massive building collapse. at least 22 people were hurt in an apparent gas line explosion that levelled three apartment buildings. special units will be dispatched to search the building. and a fourth building is at risk of collapsing. >> a capital firm did not short skirk it the career of a former female partner because she is a woman. she filed a lawsuit against kleiner per kins claiming she was fired when she complained about discrimination at the firm. they contended she was a difficult employee who failed to grow into her role. >> in south carolina a sky diving plane makes an emergency landing. the pilot made an emergency landing on a highway after the engine stopped. on friday the plane was towed back on the highway and with a fleet, it lifted off into the sky to the delight of onlookers. now to indiana where opponents of a controversial new religious freedom bill say they are rally at the state house in indianapolis. the measure set off a storm of protests with critics saying it will legalize discrimination against gays. hillary clinton and charles bark ri are also criticizing it. speaking of the final four the tournament is down to the elite eight and it was a big win last night for michigan state knocking off oklahoma. looking ahead to today's action, kentucky and notre dame face off in cleveland while wisconsin takes on arizona. and finally, he's back. a massive alligator who caused an even bigger social media buzz has once again been spotted at a florida golf club. the 12 to 13 foot guy or the returns. he was first seen strolling on the 7th green earlier this month. >> it's massive. >> that's crazy. >> i think your ball is over there. way off to the right. >> and in his defense, golf is addicting. he just can't stop it. >> is that what it is? >> i am seeing it. >> what's the forecast. >> you can golf in florida but up here it's cold. we have got this dip in the jetstream that is not going away any time soon. there is really no change to this pattern. the cold stretching all the way down south and we've got frost advisories and freeze warnings and eve an hard freeze warning back into nashville where temperatures are very, very cold as you wake up on this saturday morning. current temperatures only 27 in nashville. 21 in cincinnati. 19 in detroit. jacksonville is only at 44 degrees. afternoon highs will be about 15 to 25 degrees below average. a little bit of light snow across southern new england and even eastern long island. looking at the possibility of an inch or two. it's a wet snow. on the backside even more cold air. we also have a couple of showers through the midwest and even at our window this morning seeing a little bit of low clouds and drizzle closer to santa rosa. and 50s near san jose with the wind coming in this off the ocean. look for this to weaken by tomorrow which will allow the weekend to see warmer temperatures. expecting mid to upper 70s. close to san jose. close to 70 san francisco and mid 70s around the north bay and a better chance of seeing 80s for sunday including in san jose turning cooler early next week. that. that was awesome. . kelly and two russian. just before midnight last night. as kelly embarks on his gleer space his twin brother will be down here on the ground hepg scientists study the effects of space on the body. we are here with more. >> good morning. it's a the beginning of a rare twin study. with the hope of understanding what it may take to prepare someone to endure space travel to reach a planet far, far away. >> reporter: docking with the international space station when the three arrives inside handshakes and hugs all around. kelly's home for the next year. an american astronaut has never stayed in space that long. his twin brother retired astronaut, married to gifford and also an nbc news space and aviation analyst was there for friday's lift off. mark is grounded but still very much a part of this mission. scientists will closely monitor the ie tent cal twin brothers comparing what happens to scott's brain and body in space to what happens to mark here on earth. >> this is one step in the right direction to understand how do you send people into space for long periods of time which we'll need if we ever want to send someone to mars. >> if he bumps his head am i going to feel it? unlikely. >> and how does one handle space travel for a year. >> i am intentionally not thinking of any kind of count down. i think i have to hakds this flight on a day by day basis. his girlfriend handles public registrations. >> i miss him. we're passionate about it and we're excited for this mission. >> scott was in orbit when his sister-in-law was shot. he stayed in space and completed the mission. >> thanks. nice to see you this morning. now to a dangerous predator that could be throwing off the food chain in the everglades. a recent study shows that pythons returning the natural ball rans of the eco system eating everything in their path. here's the report. >> reporter: florida's everglades are home to many animals and unfortunately burmese pythons. a study from the university of florida say pythons rup ending this eco system. captured wild marsh rabbits like these were fixed with radio transmitters and then released. researchers tracked the signals. an astonishing 77% of the marsh rabbits turned up with the bellies of hungry pythons. >> i was not expecting pythons to have the level of impact we saw at all. roberts breed like rabbits, you would think a python would wipe them out. >> exactly. >> reporter: it was pet cats. >> i saw the snake rapping around the cat and it was squishing it. >> reporter: police captured the python. it was 12 feet long. the data collected and analyzed is the first of its kind. if scientists believe there are up to 100,000 pythons in the everglades this suggests a domino effect. they are competing for the same food animals that belong here normally eat. >> we know that environment will change as a pucks of the loss of mammals here. >> reporter: how did they get here? it's believed someone released their pet snake because it grew too large to keep at home. >> it does not belong here. it's an invasive. if that's not possible hopefully find a way to mitigate the effects on this eco system. >> the fear is they take over all of this. >> reporter: in the one documented case of a python versus the king of the jungle the python won but then it exploded and now the explosion of pythons across the everglades could be trouble for everyone involved. >> goodness. that's how a python eats a guy or the? >> well that one. i don't know if he got the word out to his friends. >> still to come the ladies of nbc and i are going to get in on a little march madness action. we'll see how your field stacks up to ours. >> our brackets are getting small quickly right after these messages. 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[ female announcer ] when you're ready to take skincare to the next level you're ready for roc®. new roc® multi correxion® has an exclusive 5 in 1 formula. it's clinically proven to hydrate dryness, illuminate dullness lift sagging diminish the look of dark spots and smooth the appearance of wrinkles. together these 5 elements create ageless looking skin. roc® multi correxion® 5 in 1. it's high performance skincare™ only from roc®. good saturday morning. it's 6:26. we're seeing fog across the bay area today. it will be a warmer day though than we saw yesterday. good morning to you. meteorologist rob is here with a look at our forecast. great to have you at the crack of dawn. >> still a little early but things looking pretty nice this morning across the bay. san francisco not much in the way of fog looking out towards the bay bridge. 53 degrees right now. north bay, 42 degrees around napa napa. low clouds and mist and you see the wind off the ocean but not as strong as yesterday. today temperatures climbing up couple degrees inland. close to 70 in san francisco. livermoore near 80 degrees. we think sunday will be the warmer of the two days. san francisco in the mid 70s for tomorrow. low 80s around san jose and the zee sea breeze picks up and temperatures drops off towards monday and tuesday. >> just in time for the workweek. thank you. we begin with continuing coverage of the killing of san jose police officer michael johnson. it was an emotional night last night as more vigils were held in his honor and one attended by the gunman's family. the united viet american neighbors organized this vigil for johnson. they wanted to show appreciation for his service and sacrifice. more than 100 people gatherred near the site where he was gunned down. they paid tribute to him stopping for a moment of silence singing amazing grace. san jose police responded to a call about a armed man. 57-year-old scott dumb than shot and killed johnson. dum dunham's niece tells us they were mourning both men. >> we're mourning for the officer but we're mourning for our uncle. >> police say johnson's partner shot and killed dunham. police say he suffered from depression and alcoholism. hundreds of people gathered at san jose city hall to remember officer johnson. ♪ did you ever know you are my hero ♪ >> the night was filled with prayer and thanks to all police officers but especially to officer johnson. he made the ultimate sacrifice keeping others safe. most people didn't personally know johnson. they wanted to just honor his life. stay with nbc bay area for continuing coverage of this story. you can always find the latest updates on nbcbay. area.com. coming up on today in the bay, the stars of the wwe are in town this weekend. we'll show you how they made their presence known throughout the bay area and even here. >> they took over social media. at least one in particular. >> at least one and we both missed out on. >> i know. >> we'll have to stay tuned to see the story. your top stories coming up at 7:00. right now back to "the today show." (scal): good day, m'lady! i am sir-can-a-lot, here to save you from another breakfast bore. wake up those eggs with glorious spam! see what spam can! do... at spam.com happy anniversary, mom and dad. >> the "today," all the way from reagan county high school. >> celebrating my tenth birthday today. >> check me out! i am famous! we are back this saturday morning, march 28th 2015. feels a bit like january outside. a good group of folks out on rockefeller plaza with us this morning. thanks to you for saying hi and stopping by. spring will come soon. we have faith. still to come in this half hour 2014 was dubbed the year of the bible by hollywood. but faith based movies have been around for decades, with passover easter next week we are going to look at some of the most popular faith based flicks. when it comes to tv these guys may not be the ones you call in an emergency, at least an emergency in your personal life but the cast of "sirens" is having fun on and off screen. had a great chance to visit them onset, we will take you behind the scenes and maybe, just maybe somebody finally achieved a dream of being a doctor. >> nice. >> reporting for duty. later, do you love kale never know how to cook it? what about seeds, cal flour, sardines. >> getting them into a recipe can be tricky. we have a california chef. >> they do it right in california. we begin with the newest controversy surrounding actress writer lena dunham. this time she may be stepping at it coming under fire for present stereotypes in a magazine article. here is jacob ras cone. >> i pee in every bathtub i get in and i wouldn't do that. >> reporter: raising eyebrows and pushing the nefl on and off her show "girls" is what actress writer lena dunham does best. what was meant to be her latest joke a so-called quiz in the new yorker some find not so funny. the article asks do the following statements refer to my dog or jewish boyfriend, including the tame he is crazy for cream cheese also the more biting he doesn't tip or bring his wallet anywhere expects to be waited on hand and foot by the women in his life and anything less than that makes him whiney and distant. overall, a tasteless article that plays with offensive stereotypes. reaction online was similar. i am horrified by the casual anti-semitism in her article. it is just not funny comparing jews to dogs period. it is adl saying it is particularly troubling. others saw her poking fun at her own heritage. her mother is jewish and in fact her boyfriend is as well. new yorker editor in chief defends the piece, saying it is rich in modern tradition. pointing to lenny bruce, larry david, sarah silverman. >> it feels very arbitrary. >> reporter: the star known for pushing boundaries is feeling the push back. for "today," jacob ras cone nbc news los angeles. dylan is here with a final check of the weather for us. >> we have a great crowd. they performed at carnegie hall last night. what was that like? >> singing at carnegie hall was the most incredible feeling ever you really can't describe what's going on in your mind. >> i have no musical tal environments, i can't imagine what it is like. but welcome to the "today" show. let's look at the weather. high pressure in control across the eastern half of the country, keeping us cold mostly dry. we have a couple of snow showers across new england, mostly accumulating on grassy surfaces. out west the flip to that. the heat temperatures 15 to 20 degrees above average. into seattle, 50s and 60s with rain showers. more rain sunday. could see a wintry mix right now watching a gorgeous view for saturday morning looking towards the bay bridge. 53 in san francisco. cooler in the north bay. currently 42. patchy fog out near santa rosa and napa. a few high clouds at times and temperatures in the mid 70s around san jose and close to 70 in san francisco and mid 70s around the north bay and upper 70s and 80 around the try valley and tomorrow temperatures should be warmer and trending cooler approaching tuesday. >> and that's the latest. >> thank you, dylan. coming up your weekend movie ticket for some of the most popular faith based films. as we go to commercial break, sing us to the break. ♪ before earning enough cash back from bank of america to help pay for her kids' ice time. before earning 1% cash back everywhere, every time. and 2% back at the grocery store. even before she got 3% back on gas all with no hoops to jump through. katie used her bankamericard cash rewards credit card to stay warm and toasty during the heat of competition. that's the comfort of rewarding connections. apply online or at a bank of america near you. i need to look for a used car. but i just keep putting it off. it's daunting. what if i make the wrong choice? it's like, if i buy a t-shirt and then change my mind i can return it. but a car? you don't reeeaaa eeeeeaaaaaly know until you've driven it a few days. i just want to be sure. ♪ ♪ as long as people drive cars carmax will be the best way to buy them. sir, we're going to need you on the runway later don't let a severe cold hold you back. get theraflu. it has the power of three medicines to take on your worst pain and fever, cough and nasal congestion. theraflu breaks you free from your toughest cold and flu symptoms. so you never miss a day. theraflu. serious power. in this morning's today's weekend movie ticket we're keeping the faith. there's a lot of buzz over the premier of nbc's ad the bible continues. with easter and passover approaching we thought this was the best time to find movies inspired by the good book. >> reporter: the best selling book of all times has had avid movie goers going to theaters. releases like son of god, exodus and noah with passover and easter fast approaching now is as good a time as ever to watch some of the classic movies about faith in the comfort of your own home. there are old favorites like the ten commandments ben hur and the 1870s comedy oh god. if you're looking to teach the kids about moses, you've got options. from the animated to the megadpa block buster with a little humor inbetween. sure the good book translates to hollywood success but it can be funny if this is any indication. >> where are you going? >> i'm taking a vacation. >> god doesn't take vacations, does he? >> did you ever hear of the dark ages. >> reporter: as you die the easter eggs remember to press pause and if you can't fight the temptation to sing no worries because no matter what you celebrate, if sister mary clarence had a say, we'd all celebrate with song. for today, nbc news new york. >> peter alexander you're a big sister act fan. what else is out there. what may be a good if i can for you? let's go to a comedian and host of not so skinny mom.com. and an e news correspondent. nice to have you with us this morning. >> nice to see you. before the movie, the bible series of course we've been talking about it. there is a new one coming to nbc on easter sunday but this has been the faith franchise has been popular for a long time. it dates back for quite a long time. why do you think they're popular and ultimately so moving. >> i think it's a combination of things these stories do so well at the box offices and they notice and they we need more of that and also with ugliness around the world, stories are looking for stories that give them hope and help them get through another day and that's why these are so successful. they're giving people stories that they want and need. >> we've broken these down into three categories. we have the epic the comedies and family films. we'll start with the epic. >> my pick is definitely the ten commandments. this is one of the best movies ever made. at the time it was the most expensive movie ever made and at the time it made the most movie ever. $123 million at the box office. it's a fantastic movie. >> then i want to do -- >> now we'll move on. we're moving on now to the comedies. >> that's what it thought. faith-based comedies. this is my first faith-based comedies segment. if i can show them all let's walk through. sister act, oh god, and sister act. why that? >> whoopi goldberg is a nun. it was so funny. and it was heart-warming and there was a message, and any time you've done a nun cracking jokes, i'm in. i think in the 90s it was the highest grossing film. it did touch. >> george burns, yes. yes, playing god. not what you expected. right? but yeah george burns. he was so good in this roll exploring the franchise. he had his own franchise, that's how crazy hollywood was during that time. george burns, you have to love it. >> we also have kid friendly movies. what are these? >> yes. >> come on. ? >> mine's coming. >> i don't know what millions is. >> this is a super underrated gem from director danny boil. it's a sweet story about kids who find a bag of money that fell from the sky. it's a sweet story about helping those who are less fortunate than you. recommend it. >> all great picks and nice to have you with us this morning. thanks for coming in. happy easter and passover. and everything you're celebrating. >> do you believe that's the question we're going to be talking about. this next week on today as we kick off a week long series on spirituality and faith. it all starts tomorrow. >> up next this morning on today we're going behind the scenes of the comedy sirens including a special guest role for someone who looked rather familiar. >> dr. hill is in the house but first this is today on nbc. first, this is "today" on nbc. "ride away" (by roy orbison begins to play) ♪ i ride the highway... ♪ ♪ i'm going my way... ♪ ♪i leave a story untold... ♪ he just keeps sending more pictures... if you're a free-range chicken you roam free. it's what you do. if you want to save fifteen percent or more on car insurance you switch to geico. it's what you do. ♪ two wheels a turnin'... ♪ back a behind the scenes look at a comedy featuring first responders. >> now in its second season "sirens" which airs on usa is from denis leary, bob fisher. we played a visit to the chicago set for a firsthand look at the fun on and off camera. >> you're never going to finish that burrito. >> yes, i am. >> they're not the first responders you're used to seeing on tv. >> navy s.e.a.l.s. >> no, easter seals. >> it is a workplace comedy. workplace happens to be set in the world of emts and police officers. >> a formula that offers more more lee bay for the cast. >> i am a good actor, not enough to convince myself i am an md. >> three emts who may be good at saving other people's lives, aren't adept at dealing with their own. >> our sex life is perfectly fine. >> fine. >> let's go. >> they're joined by cops billy. >> can i date your sister? >> and teresa. >> she's a terrible girlfriend. >> who just moved in with johnny in season two. >> really flushed out a lot of the characters and their relationships. >> more rounded out. >> something each of the actors mentioned the day we visited the chicago set. >> nice to have a team of people everybody can watch. like oh man, i love you guys on the show. >> it is a team sport. >> a team sport. that's exactly it. >> as for the set, josh gave us the grand tour. >> the vending machines there don't work. that's a fake wall. see if this works. no. >> plenty about the show is working. >> great guest stars this year feel the show itself has grown up. >> they even let yours truly try a few lines, fulfilling a lifelong dream of being a doctor or playing one on tv. >> i have a lot of faith in you. >> nothing liken couragement from the co-creator bob fisher and last minute advice from richie key. >> we all worked hard lots of writing on this for us. >> no pressure there. >> sorry. >> i'm sorry. sorry. >> in the end, it all came together. >> i'm sorry, i didn't mean to intrude, i'll come back in a bit. >> thanks. >> and it was easy to see why this cast and crew loved their jobs so much. >> like a bunch of friends in real life. so when they call action we are the same people we are always busting each other's beans. >> it is the most fun show. you can crack jokes with each other, everyone has their own sense of timing their own comedy it is great. >> a formula they hope will carry "sirens" into a third season and beyond. >> did somebody call for a doctor? >> they have so much fun. the cast and the crew are a blast. they were here with us last year on the plaza, we were joking with them mike mosley hadn't gotten a second season they're on the way to more than one. >> i see an emmy coming. that whistle was good. >> it airs tuesday if you would like to watch it. mike has uncanny resemblance to willie geist. dylan is in the orange room with today's plaza fan of the day. >> celebrating birthdays, 70th and 75th birthday. sandy levy with your family. >> yes. >> you're from atlanta. >> yes. >> happy birthday. >> thank you. still to come on "today," a little help up in the kitchen to get some super foods into your diet. but first, these messages! if you have medicare part d, walgreens gets that you might be at the corner of "looking for a good deal" and "sheesh, i wish i'd looked some more." that's why walgreens makes it easy to switch your prescriptions and save money. just stop by. and leave all the legwork to us. switch your prescriptions to walgreens where you could save even more on medicare part d with copays as low as zero dollars. at the corner of happy and healthy. i'm jerry bell the second. and i'm jerry bell the third. i'm like a big bear and he's my little cub. this little guy is non-stop. he's always hanging out with his friends. you've got to be prepared to sit at the edge of your seat and be ready to get up. there's no "deep couch sitting." definitely not good for my back. this is the part i really don't like right here. 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[breath of relief] oh, what a relief it is. this morning in "today's" kitchen, we are digging into so-called super foods. you probably hear this term a lot these days and you're seeing more of them at your local super market and farmers market. but what do you do with foods that are supposed to be so good with you. nice to have you with us. >> happy to be here. >> i was in the bay area. you have this amazing produce that makes its way east. >> monterey county is home to several super foods. we are going to talk about cal flour. >> i started making rice. what are other things you can do. >> it is the most versatile vegetable. doing a shaved salad. we are shaving it over the top. red onion in there, add almonds, chopped parsley. it is a simple vinaigrette, lemon, olive oil, salt pepper. >> what makes that a super food. >> a lot of vitamin b, a brain super charger. not only are you smarter for eat tg but smart i by eat tg. >> a win-win. >> it is raw. >> side to sandwiches mix it up. when you get a chance take a bite. i will take the entire bowl. >> i have kale. i love it in restaurants, at home i don't know what to do. >> a lot of people don't process it enough. massage oil into it sea salt use a sweeter dressing it balances the earthiness. what we are doing is a relish. doing a beautiful oregano, parsley, in our salad. that goes over a grilled steak. >> a little radicchio. not the most popular super food. the kale number one seed when it comes to the super food bracket. we have grilled steak there. nice thing about kol flower loaded it chlorophyll. it is a barbeque best friend. right over the top of a sliced steak, grab a bite. >> that smells good. >> that's amazing. >> good times. i got stuck with sardines. i think you were in charge of divvying up things. >> lucky. >> why am i lucky. >> what we are going to do dress these first. drizzle olive oil, salt and pepper. you got lucky, they're loaded with omega-3 fatty acid more than salmon. they're richly dense. super green list of month way bay aquarium. they're sustainable and fast regenerating. after we do that we pop them in the broiler. this comes out. >> how long in the broiler. >> four minutes, four or five minutes, depending on the temperature. those are spooned over this beautiful bean salad. beans are a great contrast they're not only a neutral pallet but high in fiber, protein, and lower your cholesterol. >> okay. you hear about chee a seeds and everything. >> you have chia that's sesame seeds are loaded with copper great for collagen and luscious lips. we are doing johnny cakes, a corn pancake. if you want to take that mixture of seeds, sprinkle it on. when we flip these, the seeds get nice and toasted. you're like the super food fairy dust. now if you scoop a little sweet yogurt on the one left. drop a few more seeds on it. >> we were wondering, difference between a sardine and anchovy. >> very different. >> you can find these recipes at today.com. >> that's going to do it this good morning. coming up next on today in the bay. the family of the man who killed the san jose police officer speak out about his death. also a communication breakdown at the worst possible time. the glitch that left officers in the dark when their fellow officer was gunned down. good morning. it's 6:59 on saturday and it is a beautiful morning as the sun rises over the san francisco bay. taking a live look at the bay bridge and treasure island. thanks for joining us. rob is in with us for a look at our micro climate forecast. so nice to wake up this early. >> i'm still waking up. >> and you'll be awake all day and tonight. >> and the weather looks nice across the bay. not much wind. not much fog. nice start. 53 degrees in san francisco and the view of the san jose by silhouette right now. 51 degrees. hazy skies and hazy around dublin. not much in the way of fog in the try valley. we'll see patchy clouds at times. mostly sunny skies. you see the lack really of any high clouds or any clouds that produce any rain. all that right now around seattle and portland. we're going to see temperatures climb tomorrow perhaps, some low to mid 80s. temperatures climbing up more tomorrow. a look at your weekend forecast coming up. >> we look forward to it. thanks. we begin now with continuing coverage of the killing of san jose police officer michael johnson. it was an emotional night last night as more vigils were held. one vigil attend bid the gunman's family. the united viet american neighbors organized this vigil

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