good morning. here she is. you're looking at the first photo released of jaycee dugard since her terrifying, 18-year-long kidnapping ordeal came to an end. this morning a family insider tells us how she and her daughters are doing now. wild west. a major storm system packing damaging winds and heavy rain up and down california. accidents, evacuaons, mudslides and more rain on the way. we're ve in southern california. and zachary's fate. the school board makes a decision on that first grader who took his favorite camping gadget to class. will he be sent to reform school? we'll tell you what they decided today, wednesday, october 14th, 2009. captions paid for by nbc-universal television and good morning, everyone. welcome to "today" on a wednesday morning. i'm matt lauer. >> and in for meredith this morning, i'm ann curry. good morning, everyone. a lot of people, matt, have been hoping to see this image, an image of jaycee dugard, looking healthy and happy. >> until now, we've only seen her as that 11-year-old girl who had been abducted outside of her home in 1991, but dugard decided it was time to lift the veil. we'll have more on that and a woman who spent a lot of time with the dugards recently will tell us how they're doing in a live interview. also ahead, matt, a crucial vote in the senate finance committee on tuesday, the only health care bill with the full backing of the obama administration has passed. it got one republican vote, and this morning the woman who cast that vote, the only republican in either the senate or the house to vote yes in this current push will join us live. plus, how about this story? a ralph lauren model who is 5'10", weighs 120 pounds, is claiming that she was fired for being too fat. was that really the reason? she'll join us for an exclusive live interview and we'll hear the ralph lauren company's side of the story as well. but first, let's begin with that powerful storm system that's pounding parts of california. nbc's michael okwu is in a neighborhood just outside of los angeles with more on this. michael, good morning. >> reporter: good morning, ann. what we understand at this hour is that there are record rainfalls in northern california. there are reports already of some landslides and some 60 residents in the town of davenport, california, just north of santa cruz, have been evacuated from their homes. there's also been some effects in southern california as well. in l.a. county, some 12,000 residents are without power. the last time that there was a storm this intense in october, it was back in 1962, and some 46 people died during the course of that storm. it has been raining consistently here for the last six hours or so. the good news, forecasters say, is that this storm is not moving through here with the level of intensity that was predicted yesterday. however, residents are taking nothing to chance. you can see behind me that there have been these barricades set up, concrete barriers as well as tens of thousds of sandbags, all of it constructed to try to minimize this flow of runoff that you can see here. essentially, we're being told by authorities that the roadways are going to be treacherous. we understand that there's already been an 11-car accident in bakersfield, california, where some three people died. but the very big concern at this hour is the possibility of flash floods and also landslides, particularly landslides in those foothill communities in southern california that are located very close to those areas that were ravaged by last month's wildfires, the largest in l.a. county's history, and we are told by experts that those landslides could be as large as a football field and 60 feet deep. back to you. >> a worrisome situation. michael okwu, thank you so much. and with al on assignment today, the weather annel's stephanie abrams is upstairs with more on the forecast on this. stephanie, good morning. >> good morning, ann. let's look at what happened yesterday. san francisco, we saw twice as much rainfall in one day than we get for the entire month, but check out mining ridge, over 20 inches of rain. so, the big question is, how much more will we see today? well, let's have a look at our forecast as we head through the day today, and we do have advisories still posted, flood advisories, also, high wind advisories, as our system continues to progress eastbound. it is still going to leave in its wake plenty of bad weather for the day today. a very strong jet stream continues to push ashore. that's going to bring the wind and also a little bit of rain as well. so, here is a look at that forecast. in the west we are going to see more of these showers and snow into the higher elevations. this is where a lot of the rain will be located, but also, showers into the south. we have more on that story coming up later. matt? >> all right, thanks so much, stephanie. i'll take it. it is now 7:04. here's matt. >> all right, ann, thank you very much. now to washington and that important hurdle cleared on tuesday for a bill that would overhaul the u.s. health care system. we're going to talk live to maine senator olympia snowe, the lone republican to support that measure, in a mome. but first, nbc's chief white house correspondent chuck todd has the latest. chuck, good morning to you. >> reporter: good morning, matt. well, the president's push for health care hasn't been the smoothest process over the last few months, but tuesday a big booster shot of confidence. >> we are now closer than ever before to passing health reform. >> reporter: president obama's push for health care got renewed momentum tuesday when the most influential senate committee passed a health care bill that included something the others didn't, a republican supporter. >> i do it with reservations. >> reporter: but a yes vote is a yes vote, and the president noticed. >> and i want to particularly thank senator olympia snowe for both the political courage and the seriousness of purpose that she's demonstrated throughout this process. >> reporter: but the president admitted the obvious. >> there's still significant details and disagreements. >> reporter: and those disagreements between the house and two different bills in the senate still have to be worked out, and they are very different. on cost, the senate finance bill would total $829 billion. the senate health committee bill $645 billion. and a house version, more than $1.2 trillion. on the deficit, the senate finance bill subtracts $81 billion, but the other two bills add to the deficit. on coverage, the senate finance insures 25 million of the uninsured. senate health gets the number up to 34 million. but the house bill only covers 17 million. the most politically sensitive negotiation will involve the so-called public option, a government-run health plan. the white house is non-committal. >> he strongly believes in it, but if there's another way to achieve it -- senator snowe has the idea of a trigger -- people have to look at that. >> reporter: other than snowe, republicans are united against any of the current versions. >> this package is going in the wrong direction. >> it will cause health care premiums for millions to go up, not down. >> reporter: which is why the end game for the white house is about keeping together a fragile coalition of 60 democratic senators and 1 republican. >> i believe the bill before us still falls short. >> my vote today is my vote today. it doesn't forecast what my vote will be tomorrow. >> i never count chickens before they're hatched. >> reporter: now, matt, the insurance industry is fighting back. they're up with tv advertisements targeting some of thes conservative democrats who could waiver in places like louisiana, colorado, new mexico. by the way, the full senate is expected to begin debating a full bill the week of october 26th. matt? >> thank you, chuck todd at the white house. maine's olympia snowe is with us now. good morning. >> good morning, matt. >> as we sit here this morning, you are the only republican in either the house or senate to cast a yes vote in the current push for health care reform. it begs the obvious question, are you right or are all of your republican colleagues right on this? >> well, not necessarily that i'm all right. i think it's a question of working through this issue to make it happen and incorporating the od ideas, and republicans have good ideas, and hopefully, the democrats will incorporate those good ideas, because it's not about who's giving them. it's a question whether or not it's going to work, and that's how i view the legislative process. we have a responsibility to get our job done, solve the problems for the american people. that's what i feel is my obligation. that's what maine people expect me to do and that's what i set out to do. so, i look at the issue. it's not a question who's presenting the issue but whether or not it can work, and that's the premise. >> chuck todd laid out some of the differences and the details that still stand in the way of final passage of health care reform. when you spoke to the finance committee on tuesday, you said the following -- "is this bill all that i would want? far from it. is it all that it can be? no. but when history calls, history calls." you went on to say that your yes vote now does not necessarily mean you'll vote yes in the future. so what one element, what one aspect is most likely to get you to change your vote from a yes to a no? >> too much government intrusion and too many costs that would expand the cost of the bill as it stands today. obviously, a public option would be deeply troubling, because it is governmental intrusion, create a vast new bureaucracy -- >> let me jump inthere, because the finance committee version did not contain a public option. >> correct. >> but other versions of bills out of other committees have included it in some form. can you not accept it in any form, senator snowe? >> well, i recommended to the president actually back last spring the idea of a trigger. that in the ent that affordable plans don't materialize for people in any given area of the country, a safety net of a government option would kick in immediately, similar to what we did in the prescription drug program under medicare. in fact, never had to utilize the fallback because there was so much competition, which is what we expect would emerge from this bill. >> let me ask you about repercussions from this. when the president talked about your political courage, there are often repercussions for that kind of courage, especially within your own party. is it likely, fe#ieñ example,ha your republican colleagues on the commerce committee might vote against you to take the top minority leadership spot on that committee as the result of this vote? >> well, i have no reason to believe that. you know, i've heard those rumors, but i've had very constructive conversations with mitch mcconnell, the minority leader and other colleagues. you know, i have to focus on what's right, so i haven't been threatened in any way. my job is to do my job. and you know, that's what i do every day, and i have to think about what's in the best interests of this country and my constituency and to move ahead. perks are what gets me up every day, perks of the office. it's solving the problem, frankly. >> when you said yesterday, when history calls, history calls -- if no other republicans cross over and vote on this, are they, then, in your opinion, in some way ignoring history some. >> i view it as history. it's a historic endeavor, and by everyone's measurement, it is. the last century was riddled with failed attempts, and i think right now, given the historic rise in health care costs, it's on the short-term horizon that we're going to have a serious crisis. we can't turn this around on a dime. that's why i made the analogy to the titanic. it's like turning the titanic around before it hits the iceberg. that's the situation that we're finding ourselves in today with rising health care costs. it's going to put the health care system in a death spiral. we know that. it's putting it out of reach for americans and for employers, and they're desperate for change and we have to make that change, and it's up to us to do it. so, immaterial of everything else that goes on here every day in the political realm, my job is to focus on doing what's right and crafting the best policy. it doesn't happen immediately, matt, but i think that we have to demonstrate the patience to get it done, and i think we've lost the craft of legislative work here and crafting the best legislation, and we've got to return to that and give it the patience and the commitment that it deserves. >> okay. >> that's why i appreciate the president's work on this as well and the chairman of the senate finance committee and senator grassley. everybody worked hard, irrespective of the differences. >> all right, senator snowe. it's nice for you to spend time with us this morning. we appreciate it. >> thank you, matt. >> okay. let's get a check of the rest of the morning's top stories from natalie morales, who's in for me at th news desk. good morning, natalie. >> good morning, everyone. today the president holds a national security meeting to talk about afghanistan and pakistan. he's still considering whether to send more troops to afghanistan. wrapping up her visit to moscow, secretary of state clinton today told university students that russia must uphold human rights and defend freedom. ford's biggest recall just got bigger. they're adding 4.5 million more vehicles to the recall list because of a defective cruise control switch that can cause a fire. the recall includes the windstar minivans, the excursions, the f-super duty diesel trucks, econoline, explorer, mercury, ranger and some motorhomes. trish regan is at the new york stock exchange for us this morning. trish, what are we watching for today? >> good morning, natalie. investors are really hoping for a close above 10,000 on the dow. in fact, i've seen some of those dow 10,000 again hats making the rounds on the floor of the exchange recently. so, we'll see whether or not it happens. most of it depends on earnings. we did get some positive news out of intel that should help strengthen things. also, they're going to be keeping an eye on the retail sector, thanks to that economic news out today. finally, watching the weak dollar. it's actually having a big effect on oil, causing it to go higher. natalie. >> trish regan at the new york stock exchange, thank you. an important study for parents. researchers in britain say sleeping in bed with an infant is a major factor in sids deaths. the study found that 54% of cases of sudden infant death in southwest england occurred when a parent fell asleep with a baby on the same bed or couch, especially if the parent had used drugs or alcohol. and california governor arnold schwarzenegger is promising what he calls swift action after tmz.com posted photos and video of his wife, maria shriver, holding her cell phone while driving. a 2008 law signed by her husband bans the use of handheld phones behind the wheel. the governor says he'll talk to his wife about that. uh-oh. 7:14 right now. let's turn it back over to matt, ann and stephanie. >> she's been doing a lot of work on this for nbc news, so it could be our fault. we could have been -- the producers. >> could have been our fault. maria's going to be here monday, by the way, and has some splainin' to do. more on the forecast now from stephanie abrams. >> good morning. we're talking a lot about the ra in california, but we need to focus on the south now, because that is where we do hav# . good morning. cloudy and chilly. we are in the 40s all around the region except off to our west and north in the 30s. recently, i visit the john t. baker school on career day. all these students interested in weather and broadcasting. i had a terrific time. i want to thank cindy lois and kathy her man for the invitation to the john t. baker middle school. matt, over to you. >> all right, stephanie, thank you very much. now, the very first image of jaycee dugard following her 18-year-long kidnapping ordeal. the now 29-year-old released photos of herself along with a statement to "people" magazine. larry hackett is that magazine's managing editor. larry, good morning to you. >> good morning, matt. >> this is the first photo we're seeing. obviously, thenly other photos we've seen, she was 11 years old. >> exactly. >> give me the back story. how was this arranged? >> we've come to the story literally from the beginning. we the in 1991 when jaycee went missing and we covered the story then and had photographs then. since she was found, we've been in contact with the family and all those around the family to talk about this. >> so, a "people" magazine photographer did not go there? she had someone independently take these photos and then release them to you? >> that's correct. as you read the story, you realize this is a long, extraordinary process of her trying to get her life back and to acclimate herself to her new world. enough time had passed where they felt, a, it was time for people to be able to see her, and b, i think to no small degree, there's an idea that they want control of tir own lives. obviously, there are people around them who would love this photograph. they thought, we want to control the situation. let's do it now. >> i have to ask the obvious question. was there a financial agreement in terms -- did the family, did jaycee gain financially from this photo some. >> we have bought photographs in the past like all news organizations. i won't get into the details, but we're very comfortable with the situation and that's the way we did it. >> when you look at the photo, what first comes to your mind when you see her? >> i think the juxtaposition of the old photograph that's become iconic with the new one, you see that, a, she is obviously that woman and you can see how 18 years has passed. on the other hand, she looks radiant, healthy, happy, and it's a fascinating photograph that you can stare at for quite a while. >> you're very good at what you do, so i'm sure there was talk about can you also grant us an interview for this situation. what were her reasons for not wanting to talk now? >> i think again, it's a long process. somebody likened it to an adoptive child meeting their parent. it's like that, but different in so many ways. there's 18 years of time to make up. and though her progress has been incredible and the family is bonding incredibly well, i just don't think she's ready to answer a lot of questions involving a lot of things that happened in her life. >> what can you tell us about how her daughters are doing? she has a daughter who's 15, a daughter who's 11. i understand they're being tutored, because they're clearly not prepared to go into a regular school now. >> well, they may not be prepared to go to a regular school, but their level of education is extraordinary and is about at grade level. the 15-year-old is learning at about what a 15-year-old would normally have, had she gone to school. >> which is extraordinary, when you stop to think they were schooled by jaycee. jaycee never finished anything more than the sixth grade. >> and as we remember from their living circumstance, they were basically living, you know, behind this house, underneath tarps in shacks. >> according to her lawyer, jaycee is fully cooperating with law enforcement. there's going to be a trial -- >> there is a hearing coming up later this month. >> and do you think perhaps one of the reasons they wanted to get out there now and perhaps put a photo out is because of the attention that will be paid to the trial? >> absolutely. as i said, there's a hearing later this month. there will be more and more court appearance