Transcripts For WBAL Today 20091102

but no drink? no chips? and no chance to win madden nfl 10? man, that's roughing the wallet. now this is the total package. two pieces of kentucky grilled chicken, a side, biscuit, and a madden nfl cup. you catch all that? you know i did. colonel -- i'm a fan. still think a $5 sub is a great deal? get the $5 madden nfl box. choose from 6 kfc favorites... with a side and a madden nfl cup. now i'm a full back. unthink... and taste the unsub side of kfc. good morning. getting worse. the deaths of 19 children linked to the swine flu in just the last week. the largest jump since the pandemic started. the virus now widespread in 48 states and this morning the cdc says to expect things to get worse. against all odds. the mother who watched in horror as the stroller carrying her 6-month-old son rolled right in front of an oncoming train. this morning we'll talk to her in an exclusive interview and meet her very lucky little boy. and they deserve a break today. unsuspecting customers at a mcdonald's get an earful when meredith takes over the drive-through. >> i think one cheeseburger is more than enough. if that's okay. i don't mean to talk. >> the trouble she caused "today," monday, november 2nd, >> the trouble she caused "today," monday, november 2nd, 2009. captions paid for by nbc-universal television good morning. welcome to "today" on a monday morning. i'm matt lauer, along with meredith vieira who looked right at home in the drive-through there. can i just say? and in that uniform. >> i actually had a lot of fun, wise guy. they work really hard. >> did the customers have any fun? >> people are very patient. i'll put it that way. >> it is all part of a series, "today gets a laugh." a little bit later on. also ahead, breaking news out of afghanistan. hamid karzai has now been declared the winner of that country's disputed presidential election. the latest in a live report. and we'll talk to this man, matthew ho, the first u.s. state department official to resign in protest over u.s. policy in afghanistan. he believes there's no good reason for u.s. troops to be there. his resignation letter sent shock waves all the way to the white house where president obama is weighing whether to send more troops to that troubled country. we'll talk to matthew ho in just a moment. also ahead, strong words from bernie madoff, the convicted mastermind of the largest ponzi scheme in u.s. history. in his first jailhouse interview, he questions how it took so long to catch him, even calls one federal investigator an idiot. plus, kate gosselin sits down with natalie morales for her most revealing and interview to date. but we begin with that breaking news out of afghanistan. hamid karzai declared the winner of the disputed presidential election. nbc correspondent richard engel is in kabul with more. >> reporter: good morning, meredith. weeks of political confusion in this country are now over. the electoral commission just minutes ago announced that hamid karzai has won this new election, saying that a round of run-off elections will not be necessary. this came after the chief rival to -- this political move now puts pressure squarely on the white house. the white house had said it would not make a decision on strategy off troop levels until the political situation had been clarified here in afghanistan. now it has been clarified. hamid karzai, a new president for another five-year term. >> matthew ho became the first state department official serving in afghanistan to resign over protest to american policies in that country. in his resignation letter, he wrote, "i fail to see the value or worth in continued u.s. casualties or expenditure of resources in support of the afghan government in what is truly a 35-year-old civil war." matthew ho is with us this morning exclusively. good morning, nice to see you. first, your reaction. the run-off has been canceled. what's it going to mean in afghanistan? >> my reaction, a lot of people's reaction, particularly people that served there, this is disappointing. we've invested a lot of resources, particularly lives of our young men to establish a government. we didn't get what we put our troops there for. >> some people say but there is clarity now where there was not in the past. and is that clarity not worth anything? >> it doesn't provide anything of strategic value to the united states. central government there is not -- having a central government in afghanistan is not going to feed al qaeda or stabilize pakistan which should be our two goals. >> you spent a lot of time in afghanistan on the ground. your resignation sent shock waves right up to the white house. you resigned in a very public manner. your letter read by readers of the "washington post." why did you choose to go about it this way and not to continue to work within the administration to affect change? >> i hit a point in my conscience where i felt it was senseless what was happening. our troops were fighting against people who were fighting us because we're occupying them. and like i said earlier, what we're doing there doesn't obtain any strategic values or goals for the united states. >> you jump right in on me because i'm paraphrasing and don't want to put words in your mouth, but suffice it to say that you think the u.s. is still fighting in afghanistan and looking at the situation there through the lens of 9/11. and you say the people we're fighting there, the insurgents, do not see it that way at all. they're not there fighting to support the taliban, the people who allowed violence to come to our shores. they're fighting for their individual communities and their valleys. is that appropriate? >> that's entirely appropriate, entirely right. >> so as long as we fail to understand that this isn't about 9/11 and in many ways not even about the taliban, we're wasting the lives of men and women there. >> correct. correct. >> what do we do about it? people say what about the surge? general mcchrystal wants some 40,000 more troops there. people at home say, wait a second, the surge worked pretty well in iraq. why won't a similar surge work well in afghanistan? >> afghanistan is not iraq. it is entirely different country. it has an entirely different problem set to it. terrain, the people, are different. one thing i want to be careful about, i don't want to get tied into talking about "how," i want to talk about "why." >> but "how's" pretty important. >> but if i believe having 60,000 troops in afghanistan would defeat al qaeda or stabilizing the afghan government at the cost of our soldiers' lives would defeat al qaeda or stabilize pakistan, then i would have stayed and i would have continued working in the system. >> is it a fair assessment -- not to put words in your mouth again -- that to say if we send 40,000 additional troops to afghanistan it will complicate the situation because again they view us simply as outsiders and that is the reason they're fighting us, no other reason. >> absolutely. i believe the increase of troops will only fuel the insurgency. >> an aide to general mcchrystal wrote recently, "suddenly the opinion of a junior state department employee, talented and patriotic though he may be," and cautions you shouldn't be singled out as the final authority. >> it is a complex and i understand people have varied views and interests on this. however i think the reaction i've gotten from this shows that points i'm making are points that a lot of people have a feeling or thinking about for a long time. >> what kind of reaction have you gotten? public reaction has been somewhat wide eyes as to what you've written and said. what's the reaction within the administration? >> there's been no ill will. it's been very professional, very accepting. i know a lot of people within the administration agree with me. two things -- i've gotten a lot of support from the general public but two communities in particular are really reinforcing my decision to remain in this debate. one is afghan-americans are contacting me. i'm hearing a lot from them saying, hey, you get it, this is civil war, that the united states is only taking one side in the civil war and you understand how society works there. the other part is active duty military. i get a lot of letters of support from active military duties, guys here and guys in afghanistan, some i know, some i don't, who are saying, matt, keep doing this, we're not sure what we're doing here, this doesn't make sense, all we're doing is nighting people who are fighting us because we're occupying them. >> matthew hoh, you advanced the debate and i appreciate your time this morning. now let's get a check of the rest of the morning's top stories. ann has those at the news desk. good morning. we begin with another suspected taliban bombing in pakistan this morning. at least 35 people died, more than 40 others wounded. many of they will elderly people gathered at a bank to withdraw their pensions. pakistan's massive army offensive against the taliban has caused some of its militants to stup up their attacks and retaliation. but today the pakistani government vows to continue its offensive. the coast guard says a search for nine people missing after a collision last week between a coast guard plane and recovery effort is now a recovery effort. today a navy assault ship built from steel from the fallen trade center will receive 21-gun salute. in the biggest bankruptcy filings ever, lending company cit group filed for chapter 1 protection on sunday. how wide is the impact? >> it is pretty wide. it affects us all as taxpayers because the treasury department lends more than $2 billion to cit to help it out during this very difficult time. that means treasury is expected to lose $2.3 billion. it means all of us are expected to lose essentially $2.3 billion. shareholders are definitely a loser in this as well, ann. but the up side is that some of the customers of cit, small and middle-market businesses, may be able to continue receiving loans. >> trish regan this morning, thanks. in the world series, the new york yankees now hold a 3-1 games lead over philadelphia after beating the phillies 7-4 last night. game five is tonight. it is now 7:10 and time to go back over to matt, meredith and al. if the sun is shining and matt looks happy, that's only because of the game last night. >> i don't want people to think that i'm overconfident because i am not, it is not over until it's over. until the -- somebody sings. someone sings. >> wow. >> but you're feeling good. >> better than i was after game one but it's not over. >> no, it's not, matt. >> no, no, no. let's take a look, see what's going on, show you for today, basically what we're looking at is a fairly quiet day. we have a few showers moving through. good news is a big change from last week's system where we had a deep trough out of the west, now it is apparently fairly zonal jet stream up to the north. we have some showers in the pacific northwest, sunshine throughout the southern california on into the southwest, near record temperatures today in florida with highs getting up into the mid to upper-80s. coastal flooding along the mid-atlantic and northeast coast as low pressure combines with a strong onshore flow and >> we are off to a fairly quiet start this monday. a slight chance of running into a couple of speckles on the eastern shore counties, but basically quiet weather, with temperatures in the >> that's your latest weather. al, thank you. now to the swine flu and the largest one-week jump in the number of child deaths in six months. nbc's chief medical editor dr. nancy snyderman is here with the very latest. nancy, good morning to you. >> good morning, meredith. the information from the cdc is really quite straightforward. there's more h1n1 expected, more vaccine, and more antiviral treatment. >> i'm at the end of the line. fy was five minutes later i would have had to drive back home again. >> reporter: like the growing lines of people waiting for the h1n1 vaccine. >> the line has not moved and it is hot and they have pregnant women in the heat. >> reporter: the virus itself continues to spread. in the u.s., h is n 1 is now robust in 48 states. >> it is a terrible epidemic and we know that kids are getting sick and parents are getting frustrated but we're working our way through this problem. >> reporter: that includes making more of the h1n1 vaccine available. last week just over 16 million doses were shipped. this week, more than 26 million will be available, an increase of more than 10 million doses. >> children are a top priority particularly children with underlying health conditions. >> reporter: last week, 19 children died of h1n1, bringing the total of 114 nationwide since the virus first appeared back in april. two-thirds of those children had an underlying medical condition. but it highlights the fact that so far, h1n1 has been a young person's flu. the cdc's also releasing its entire national stockpile of pediatric tamiflu to account for a recent shortage in the liquid. as working with pharmacists nationwide make even more tamiflu. >> once the flu presents, tamiflu can reduce the symptoms but there is no taking in it advance to shield you. >> reporter: so far the cdc says virtually all cases of influenza have been h1n1 which means the virus hasn't mutated -- good news for people concerned about the effectiveness of the h1n1 vaccine. >> genetically the virus has not changed. it is still closely matched with vaccine. we have not seen mutations that would suggest that it would become more deadly. >> if you're 25 or 64 and you're hiltthy, we're sorry but you will not get the vaccine today. >> reporter: but with shortages of the h1n1 vaccine still widespread and lines still growing, so, too, are frustrations. >> there's no organization at all. it's shameful. >> the government says it hopes that the supply from the h1n1 vaccine will meet demand later this week and that's welcome news for a lot of people who have been turned away from those lines at those vaccine distribution centers. >> i want to talk about some of the numbers we've seen with kids. 114 children have died so far since april, 19 last week alone. that's the highest number reported since the disease first showed itself in this country. why the spike now? what's going on? >> i think we'll see this in waves. we had an early wave in the spring, senator wave -- there will be another wave later in the fall. i think what we have to drive home is while we've talked about children with underlying medical conditions, there are a jut of kids, just asthma. two-thirds of kids with underlying medical conditions means a third of children who are otherwise healthy with no underlying problems whatsoever. but we'll see more. >> you talk about we'll see this up-and-down with the disease. does that mean we'll never quite be out of the woods when it comes to h1n1? >> no, i think next year this will probably be rolled into the regular old seasonal flu shot. but while it is new and so many people under the age of 23 who haven't seen this before, their immune systems will be more challenged, so expect more. i do think we'll see this in waves. >> experts from the world health organization have concluded that children may now need just one shot and not a boost, though there are more studies to be done. where does that stand at this point? >> what the w.h.o. is now saying if you are in fact deficient in doses, you may consider just giving kids one dose. we've said basically kids under the age of 10 should have a shot, then a booster. but if in fact we have short supply, perhaps consider giving kids just one. our government is saying we're going to wait to look at our data, right now not changing our recommendations and we'll let you know in a week or so. right now in this country children over the age of 6 months but under the age of 10, two shots. children over the age of 10 and adults still one shot. >> the government is also saying a total of 26.6 million vaccines have been made available for this week. that's up 10 million from seven days ago. >> right. >> which is a good sign. they say they're closing the gap between supply and demand, but we were told months ago that we needed 120 million doses so these numbers -- >> don't viv. >> they don't add up at all. >> no, we're way short. what cat bean sebelius said, look, manufacturers told us they would have those numbers. we then told the american public we would have those numbers and we are falling very short. >> then are we making up this other number of 28 million where that's all we need now? >> no. they're rolling it out as fast as they can. the goal is still to get up to 100 million but we may not see that until december. >> they say they'll get up to that in a week. >> they're not going to have it in a week. hopefully we'll have another 20 million and we'll see i think 10 million to 20 million a week as a roll-out, hopefully getting to the maximum dose they expected by mid-winter. the concern is of course the families who are right now juggling sick kids with not having enough vaccine around. it is a frustration all the way around. >> nancy snyderman, thank you so much. 7:17. here's matt. thank you. now to a jailhouse interview with convicted swindler bernie madoff. he even now is admitting to being stunned by the government's inability to catch him. nbc's peter alexander has details on that. peter, good morning to you. >> reporter: matt, good morning to you. this is significant because it is the first time we're hearing from bernie madoff from behind bars as he tries to explain how he managed to conceal the largest ponzi scheme in u.s. history for so long. madoff mocked the s.e.c.'s incompetence for botching at least six past investigations into his firm and at one point calling one of the investigators formerly assigned to his case "an idiot." in the jailhouse interview, b bernie madoff told investigators even he was stunned by the government's inability to catch him for more than two decades while he masterminded a $65 billion ponzi scheme. his startling admissions were revealed in more than 6,000 pages of documents released by the securities and exchange commission following a freedom of information request. in the interview, madoff said s.e.c. investigators "never even looked at my stock records. if they did," he added, "it would have been easy for them to see the scam." >> the most striking thick about these exhibits is that it turns out that this fraud was nothing complex, nothing particularly clever. it was a straight-up, plain vanilla ponzi scheme that really should have been discovered by regulators years ago, but wasn't. >> reporter: also in the new exhibits -- evidence of six failed inquiries by the s.e.c. after several strong complaints against madoff since 1992. including this letter to the s.e.c. chairman three years ago, calling madoff an extreme example of uncontrollable greed which should be investigated by the proper authorities. still, while madoff ridiculed the s.e.c.'s ineptitude, he admitted he was worried every time investigators showed up. that was the nightmare i lived with, he explained. "i wish they caught me six years ago. eight years ago." >> the real significance of the madoff story is that it shows how the regulators here really missed the boat, how they didn't ask the right questions, how they never followed up, and how this could happen again unless they changed the way they approach regulation. >> reporter: in part, madoff credited his reputation as the high-powered financial genius for helping him avoid getting caught sooner, stating that current s.e.c. chairwoman mary shapiro was a dear friend. in fact, the inspector general determine there had was no proof madoff and miss shapiro had a close relationship, and no evidence of any criminal wrongdoing by s.e.c. members involved in the case. madoff's conclusion in his own words -- it never entered the s.e.c.'s mind that it was a ponzi scheme. for its part, the s.e.c. would not comment on the newly released exhibits. in the interview, madoff, a former nasdaq chairman, said he was "very proud" of the role he played on wall street, acknowledging of course that he has destroyed that knew. the interview was conducted by the s.e.c.'s unspecter-general last june just days before madoff was sentenced to 150 years in federal prison. >> peter alexander, thank you very much. just ahead, an exclusive interview with the mother who watched in horror as her infant, strapped in his stroller, suddenly rolled into the path of an oncoming train. but first, this is "today" on nbc. if you want to know why your 3g coverage works so well on verizon wireless, there's a map for that. or why you can watch videos at 3g speed, almost anywhere, there's a map for that. and if you want to know why some people have spotty 3g coverage, there's a map for that, too. yep, with five times more 3g coverage than at&t, there's lots of reasons to switch-- to verizon wireless. come in now for great new samsung 3g messaging phones, starting at 49.99. still ahead -- kate gosselin sits down with natalie morales. >> how is this affecting you all that we don't see? >> i'm awake in the middle of the night. >> kate's answer and more from their candid conversation coming up. plus, a burger with a size of wisecracks. i give some unsuspecting fast food customers a surprise of a lifetime. that's after your local news and weather. >> live, local, latebreaking. this is wbal-tv 11 news today in baltimore. >> good morning. i'm stan stovall time to get a check on the morning commute with sarah caldwell and traffic pulse 11. >> several accidents since last checked. for 30 and klees mill road, accident there. south on 795 as you approach the beltway, an accident coming in there. standard delays heading towards edmondson. a couple of other problems to mention. york road and lake avenue, an accident at towson no., watch for debris in the center lane. 14 on the northeast outer loop. let us check in on the live cameras this morning. southbound, looking pretty good until you get just prior to the beltway northeast. these delays extend back to 795. >> things are pretty quiet for us on this monday. there are few sprinkles on the eastern shore counties. the same storm that give us rain over the weekend is signing of the offshore. 49 at the airport right now. we will sneak into the mid fifties this afternoon. more sunshine west of baltimore, and if you're watching on the eastern shore, the to be a few sprinkles for you guys. a brief warm-up on tuesday. we will make this country, but a slight chance for a few rain showers on wednesday and thursday. >> check the bottom of your screen for updated news and traffic information. our next live update at some o'clock 55. -- 7:55. on issues important to seniors, senators mikulski and cardin have been leaders, fighting to make health care more affordable and to make sure seniors have access to the medicines their doctor prescribes. now maryland senators can improve medicare and help close the donut hole without raising premiums on seniors by as much as 20%, which some proposals would do. call today -- ask senators mikulski and cardin to support the senate health care reform bill. because we can improve medicare without making seniors pay more. 7:30 now on this monday morning, the 2nd day of november, 2009. brisk start to the work week here in new york. we'll step outside to rub elbows with everyone out on the plaza in a bit. meanwhile inside studio 1a, i'm meredith vieira, along with matt lauer. just ahead in this half-hour, answer cluesive interview with a mother involved in an incredible story caught on tape. >> that's right. she was standing on a train platform last month, her 6-month-old son strapped in a stroller. she turned away for an instant, and that stroller rolled right into the path of an oncoming train. miraculously the infant survived with just a few scratches. we'll hear from his very thankful mom in a few minutes. also ahead, natalie morales sits down with kate gosselin for a candid interview. is the very public demise of her marriage taking a toll on the reality star. little later on, she was the goodie two-shoes stephanie tanner on "full house." when the show ended, jodie sweetin's life became anything but clean-cut. now she's speaking out about a secret addiction to drugs. we'll talk to her just ahead. but let's begin with the video that can send chills down any parent's spine. we'll talk exclusively with the mother who watched in horror as her infant's stroller rolled right in front of an oncoming train in a moment but first, here is how it all unfolded. it happened in a train station outside melbourne, australia. a mother tenning to her baby in his stroller. pulls it away from the platform edge and gets ready to hop on the train. then the unthinkable. the stroller with the 6-month-old boy inside rolls off the platform straight into the path of the approaching locomotive. shocked mother almost jumped in front of the train attempting to save her baby. she fears the worst. her agony there for all to see. this witness still finds the memory upsetting. >> it is all coming back it me when i stand here. i just heard screaming. >> reporter: the train comes to a stop 100 feet further along. the baby underneath shielded only by the stroller. a schoolboy, aaron dryden, pulls under the train to pull the baby free. >> he hands it to me. i checked the baby over and just a gash on the side of the head. baby was happy, fine. but everybody was in shock. >> reporter: with hardly a scratch on him, this little boy may just be the world's luckiest baby. we spoke with the mother recently. i started by asking her how her son was doing now. >> he's doing fine and he's good. just feeling sleepy at the moment. otherwise he is a big -- he's a good, happy good guy. >> when i watched the video for the first time it took my breath away. i'm a parent and i couldn't see your face because the camera is far away, but as you watched that stroller roll into the tracks and saw the train coming, it had to feel like the end of the world to you. >> yes, it does. it was a shock -- but like a human instinct, the first reaction came to my mind is how to get hold of my baby. but before i can get hold, it was already off the platform and there was a moment that i thought i should jump but i just thought for a second that i should have a look what has happened to him. i just wanted to have a look, how is he. at that time i just -- i was blank. i was complete shock. and as soon at train stopped within ran towards the platform where it stopped and there was this young guy who came and who offered to help. as we approached i could hear him crying. that for the moment i was relieved. i was relieved by feeling that my boy is alive, my son is alive and he's crying. so i unlocked the safety harness and i took him out in my arms and -- obviously this has got to be so difficult. while you're so thrilled as to how this turned out, it's got to be difficult to put this out of your mind. is this something that you think about constantly? have you had nightmares about this? >> starting three, four days were very, very difficult. very stressful. i was getting hard time to sleep. but my husband was this all the time supporting and providing me comfort and my friends were there. they made a point not to leave me alone and not to think of this. >> i know that there must have been on your part a feeling of what did i do wrong. and yet i heard that investigators said shortly after this that you did nothing wrong, that this was simply a freak accident. did that give you some comfort to know that you didn't do something to put your baby in harm's way? >> yes. yeah. even what i remember, all the time i make sure the brakes are on and the safety harness is intact, properly tucked in and he was like wrapped and everything was in place. what i supposed to do, i done my part. but it was just for the fraction of second when you just like any other person when the train comes, you just about to get ready to hop on the train. that was a moment -- it just happened. it just happened and still don't believe that it all happened so fast, so quickly. >> you have to think that there is a reason that it ended this way, that there must be that your boy was saved. >> yes, i believe. i believe. he it destined to do something good, something great in his life. that's why god is there and i thanks to him again and again. i'm a god-fearing person and i have faith in him. and after this incident, it even become more stronger. >> well, we wish you the best and we wish your baby the best. i'm sure there is no parent watching right now that doesn't have his or her heart pounding. we're just happy it ended the way it did. >> yes, i'm happy for the positive outcome and i'm happy for my boy. >> you should be. hug him tightly. okay? >> yes, i'll do. i'll do. definitely i'll do that every time. now i don't let him go out of my sight. >> i can imagine. thank you for joining us. our best of luck. >> thanks, matt. thanks. >> imagine the luck that that stroller landed exactly the way it did. it ended up between the wheels and not across the tracks. >> but you listen to her talking about it, just looking at her eyes, she's reliving it constantly, just what might have been is so frightening. as she said, it is every parent's nightmare in one split second how you can go from something so positive to what could have been such a disaster. >> again a happy ending. let's get a check of the weather now from mr. roker. al? >> thanks, guys. got a lot of friends out here who ran the marathon. and this young lady, what's your name again? >> joy johnson. >> joy johnson. how many marathons have you run? >> new york been 22 in a row. >> you want to share just how young you are if. >> 82. >> 82. all these nice folks running the marathon. 40th running of the marathon. let's check your weather. few showers here in the northeast. week ahead for the early week, much above normal temperatures to above normal out west. showers around the eastern great lakes. also looking at dry weather as we get into the midwest. above normal temperatures out west. below normal in the northeast. some rain in the pacific northwest. then for the late week, below normal temperatures along the eastern seaboard. midsection of the country much warmer. look for mountain snows as a new storm comes in to the pacific northwest. >> off toward quiet start this work week it made a couple speckles of the eastern shore counties. most of us, just clouds and sunshine. >> we want to show you some more marathon runners. want to let you know, if you need your weather any time of the day or night, you can go to weather channel on cable or weather.com online. matt? >> all right, al. thank you very much. still ahead, with we'll show you trouble that meredith caused, not on just a typical day here at the office. but, no, when she kind of handles a shift at a mcdonald's drive-through. but up next, natalie's revealing'nt view with kate gosselin. first these messages. we are back at 7:42. now to the latest drama involving jon and kate gosselin. with rumors flying about their personal lives, both reality stars are now speaking out. "today" national correspondent natalie morales has the very latest. natalie, good morning. >> good morning, meredith. no matter what they do, jon and kate can't seem to stay out of the spotlight. i had a rare opportunity to sit down with kate for a special one-hour program that airs tonight on tlc. no topics were off-limits and kate was brutally honest. who do you have on your side now? >> a very, very small group of people. >> reporter: wherever she goes, cameras seem to follow. while there are crowds and kids around her constantly, right now kate gosselin seems like someone who is very much alone. >> when you look around and very close, trusted people who you would swear on your life would never, ever, ever, you know, cash you in, for lack of better words, and those people do that, and people leave your house and tell completely different stories, you tend not to trust people. >> reporter: it's been a very messy road for the john and "kate plus 8" star since the two announced their divorce in june. the pair are tabloid staples from fighting over their shared bank account -- >> he took $230,000 of the $231,000 that we have liquid. >> reporter: -- to allegations of infidelity, to jon's public escapades with new girlfriend haley glassman. he says's he no you remorseful. >> i do apologize to kate. i'm sorry for doing the things that i did and i do ask for her forgiveness. >> reporter: in the latest twist, gosselin spoke out last night at a new york city synagogue, alongside a celebrity rabbi who was once michael jackson's spiritual advisor and is now helping counsel the reality star. >> it is hard for a man to stay home for two years and change diapers an make meals and deal with like doctors appointments and all the stuff that you expect your wife to do. >> reporter: he also dispelled rumors he's split from haley glassman. >> we've decided to not take a break, but slow things down. >> reporter: as the whole drama plays out publicly, it is taking its toll on kate. how is this affecting you all that we don't see? >> i'm awake in the middle of the night thinking, am i making the best decision. >> ready, set -- go! >> reporter: while kate tries moving forward with her life raising her eight kids, i asked her to look back to her own childhood. >> i'm famous for telling my mom growing up my whole life, mom, five kids is way too many. there's just -- you lose something in the details. and -- >> ironic. >> -- she ironically reminded me when i ended up with eight kids, do you remember what you always told me? >> it is a very rocky period for kate right now but she's very strong woman and is focusing on the future and trying to deal with the stress as best she can. >> i imagine the divorce is see specially hard on her. >> she says some of the kids are showing signs of stress, behavioral changes, becoming more introverted and shy. but she says she's looking forward to 2010. the divorce is expected to be finalized by the end of the year and she hopes to make a new start in the new year. >> the tabloids had a field day with her and these rumors about infidelity. did she address them at all, her own infidelity? >> she did. she says the rumors between her and her bodyguard having this alleged affair. she says that's just an outrageous claim that her bodyguard and his family are among her very few people that she trusts in her circle of friends. she says the fact that jon was the one who made those stories public, he was the one who took those stories to the tabloids, that's what made her most angry in all of this. >> is the show now done? >> it is in a hiatus right now. there's talks about whether it will become ""kate plus 8,"" but of course this is all still up before the courts right now because jon right now is making allegations that this is harmful to the children. kate says the show's absolutely not harmful to the children. so it's for now on hold. but the hope is that they'll be able to continue in some way once this goes before the courts. >> you get the impression, i had the opportunity to interview kate as well a couple of times, she's a tough lady but the emotions right there on the surface. >> and for her children as well. it is a hard time. >> natalie, thanks very much. you can see natalie's entire interview on "kate her story," tonight at 9:00, 8:00 central on tlc. former child star jodie sweetin, stephanie tanner on "full house," talks about life on the set and her secret battle with drug addiction. we'll talk with her but first these messages. everybody have a nice halloween? >> lovely. >> all started on a friday, day before the holiday with our "star wars" themed extravaganza out on the plaza. george lucas and lucas film helped us out by providing authentic props and costumes. it went off kind of without a hitch. >> i think we pulled it off. >> i was criticized. my husband said i looked vacant. >> you had a couple of cinnabuns on your head. >> hoda yoda. >> i just can't get past those ears. >> it was fun. apparently we weren't the only one to get into the act. >> lester. >> who? >> lester holt. wow! >> that is vague gi lly disturb. >> stunning. stunning. >> and amy as simon. lester had that -- what do you call that? prosthetic. it was very effective. >> that man did the "nightly news" after that. he was good. he is good. did we learn anything? >> yeah. not to do it again. >> matt lauer. >> i can't tell you how many people over the weekend said i saw you, was that bruno? what was bruno doing getting out of an x-wing fighter, everybody thought. >> that's from the real movie. that's what's cool. >> you did have the best line here, matt. >> the thing took -- >> what did matt say? >> he said -- >> a lot people enjoyed it. >> back after your local news. >> live, local, latebreaking. this is wbal-tv 11 news today in baltimore. >> good morning. i am stan stovall. let's get a check on the morning commute with sarah caldwell and traffic pulse 11. >> dealing with a handful accidents around the area. at klees mill road, if you are heading out in hampton, watch for delays and lanes closed there. eastbound 140 at brian daniel court in the reisterstown vicinity, an accident. just past owings mills, watch for a vehicle fire reported. this is causing some delays. west side delays in place along the inner loop heading towards the j.f.x. out of the delays on the northeast side. southbound j.f.x. at no., looks like the debris is gone. we're looking at pretty heavy drive times with the west side delays in place and 21 minutes on out of the north east side. let's give a live view of traffic on the west side. what you are looking at is outer loop delays coming towards us opposite the accident scene. that is the latest on traffic pulse 11. >> things are pretty quiet in the with the department. a couple of sprinkles over the eastern shore. for the most part, it is a dry commute. 51 degrees downtown at the maryland science center. a mixture of clouds and sunshine. more sunshine west of baltimore than east. high temperatures in the mid- 50's. we will make it up to 63 tomorrow. a slight chance for a couple of showers on wednesday and thursday. that will lock the highest on a thursday -- 50s others did. >> our n on issues important to seniors, senators mikulski and cardin have been leaders, fighting to make health care more affordable and to make sure seniors have access to the medicines their doctor prescribes. now maryland senators can improve medicare and help close the donut hole without raising premiums on seniors by as much as 20%, which some proposals would do. call today -- ask senators mikulski and cardin to support the senate health care reform bill. because we can improve medicare without making seniors pay more. 8:00 on a monday morning. it is the 2nd day of november, 2009. i want everybody to take a look at what's happening in new york harbor. that is the navy assault ship, the "uss new york" sailing past lower manhattan. that is a ship that was built with some of the steel from the collapsed towers of the world trade center coming in to new york harbor. very emotional moment for a lot of people obviously on that ship an people watching all over, as there is the site of what once was the world trade center as building continues on what will be a new development there. >> that's actually an amazing sight. >> it is very moving. back on the plaza on this monday morning, i'm matt lauer, along with meredith vieira and al roker. coming up on a much, much, much, much lighter note, you're going to start to work at mcdonald's. >> yes. well they only let me work there for about two hours, then they kicked me out. it was fun. i pose as an employee. right? i'm at the drive-through. i'm giving these people a bit of a hard time, to say the very least. what i discovered is -- well, you'll find out what i discover. >> they discovered as well. as the young stephanie tanner on the show "full house," jodie sweetin played the innocent as pie young lady. but when the show ended, she went into a mode i think she calls it the antistephanie. she was anything but sweet and innocent. she had years of drug abuse and addiction and she's here. she's written a new book about that and she'll reveal some what have was going on in her life at that time. >> thankfully she came out on the other side. a little bit later on, very moving, special story. a soldier in iraq. a stray dog and the miracle -- there's nubs -- that brought these two friends together. they're going to share their whole story. >> the book is called "nubs." if you're doing some early christmas shopping, it is a fantastic -- >> love it? >> more than fantastic. it is a great, great book for kids, and adults as well. meanwhile, ann is inside with the headlines. good morning, everybody. in the news this morning, there are major developments in afghanistan today. the country's election commission called off this week's presidential run-off election and has now declared incumbent president hamid karzai the winner. this comes after karzai's main political rival abdullah abdullah dropped out of the race on sunday claiming it would be a fraudulent election. the white house has signaled it is now waiting for the political situation in afghanistan to stabilize before it makes a decision on u.s. troop levels. meantime, in pakistan another suspected taliban attack claimed the lives of at least 35 people today. a suicide bomber struck outside a bank near army headquarters where military personnel were waiting in line to collect their pay. there is mor edence today that iran will not go along with its nuclear deal, the deal that negotiators agreed to in geneva. in the deal backed by the united states, iran would send much of its low-enriched uranium to other countries for processing. now iran says it first wants guarantees it will receive the fuel before it exports any of its uranium. this morning the once-troubled automaker ford announced it has made nearly $1 billion in profits in the third quarter, fueled by massive cost cutting and the government's cash for clunkers program. ford expects to be solidly profitable by 2011. a grim story in cleveland. police are trying to identify the bodies of six women found inside the home of a convicted rapist. nbc's lee cowan has more on this. >>eporr: it isnef cleveland's worst serial killings and disturbing barely describes it. inside this home on the city's east side, police found the bodies of six women, some wrapped in plank keblankets, sod in a basement. the coroner says most had been strangled and police say this is the man who did it. >> he scared me. i didn't trust him. >> reporter: 50-year-old anthony sowell, a convicted sex offender, had been living in the home since 2005 when he was released from prison. >> he was on everyone's radar. you could look him up on the sheriff's sex offender website but no one knew exactly what he was doing. >> neighbors say he'd often try to lure women inside. as news of the grisly discoveries spread, those missing loved ones showed up with pictures if hand fearing the worst. >> we just need to know. we just need to know. if it's not her, we can continue to look for her. sowell is behind bars and the home is toxic mess, sealed off as investigators try to determine who the women were who went in and never came out. lee cowan, nbc news. and as you just heard, a navy assault ship built with steel from the collapsed twin wers arrived in the namesake city today. the "uss new york" is sailing past the world trade center site this morning pausing for a 21-gun salute. the ship's bow was made with 7 1/2 tons of steel from the towers. it will be officially commissioned this coming saturday. it is now 8:05. let's now go back outside to meredith and matt. >> hey, ann, thank you very much. >> it is a little cold here today. nice and sunny, but coal. >> not terrible. >> little brisk, that's right. getting ready for winter. >> well, that's what happens. >> it is this kind of pneumonia weather. >> today's world pneumonia day. it is the first one. it is to recognize that there are 2 million children under 5 who die every year from pneumonia. >> for more information, how do you get it? >> worldpneumoniaday.org. >> let's check your weather. for today, showers around the great lakes, pacific northwest, coastal flooding from the mid le atlantic states into the nortast today. sunny and warm in florida today, near-record temperatures. for the world series tonight, cloudy and cool in philadelphia. middle east winds. 8:00 temperature 52. by the time the game is over, about 48. we'll see if the yankees win. then tomorrow, southern tier st >> we are off to a fairly quiet start this monday. a slight chance of running into a couple of speckles on the eastern shore counties, but basically quiet weather, with temperatures in the >> got more folks who ran the marathon. come on down here, show those medals. looking good. now back to matt. when we come back, shall we super size that for you? meredith tries her hand at a mcdonald drive-through. much to the chagrin of the customers. but first, these messages. a estimated 41 mpg city and all the words stick because they're true. we speak the most fuel-efficient midsize sedan in america. we speak the 2010 ford fusion hybrid. get in... and drive one. don't come 'til december. with sears layaway, you can lock down deals today - and pay over time. - elf: layaway! all right! - guys, we're here for santa! - whee! announcer: layaway today, pay over time. that's life. well spent. sears. chopped onions, pickles, american cheese. the mcdonald's mcdouble. it's a double for a single. on the dollar menu everyday. that's what we're made of. ♪ ba da ba ba ba with gorgeous necklaces gem and jewel cuffs tis the season to glow with silver to the elbow. spend wisely. give wildly. chico's. love it, love it, love it. at walgreens, we're changing the way... people think about their health... by offering the expertise and advice necessary... for everyone to make informed decisions. because sometimes all you need to start living well... is an invitation. join us this month for your... free diabetes testing. to find a testing location near you, go to walgreens.com/findastore. or call 1-877-w-and-you. walgreens. there's a way to find answers. ♪ two all beef patties special sauce lettuce cheese pickles ♪ today i mix things up at a mcdonald's to see how folks would react when faced with a less-than-accommodating drive-through attendant -- yours truly. >> let's start with this. put this on. fantastic. this is your name tag. okay? >> all right. >> so welcome. so finally -- this is your headset. fantastic. the a1 button is for you to speak with the customers. remember we want to make sure we give the right order to the customer. >> we do. okay. >> don't worry, you'll do fine. >> okay, ready. >> ready to go. >> hello, may i help you? welcome to mcdonald's. >> can i get a number two, please if. >> two cheeseburgers. >> yeah, the meal. >> isn't that an awful lot to eat at this hour? did you have your breakfast already? i would say don't go for two. i would say one cheeseburger is plenty. ky he can i help you? >> yes. on the dollar menu, a cheeseburger and a small fry. that's all. >> i can't hear you. >> on the dollar menu, a cheeseburger and a small french fry. >> do you think you could get out of the car. >> yeah. >> and enunciate. the problem we have today is we are out of hamburger. >> you have no burgers? >> you know what i can give you? buns. >> buns? >> i think i've got buns for you. yeah. we can grill them. really. sir? >> a cheeseburger and a small french fry. >> you're very, very loud. do not be so loud. back off a little bit. that's enough. now say it. >> on the dollar menu. >> on the dollar menu. >> a cheeseburger. >> a cheeseburger. >> and a small french fry. >> and a small french fry. see, that was lovely. come around. i think one cheeseburger is more than enough. if that's okay. i don't mean to talk. but if you're comfortable with that, i think one cheeseburger really -- >> i want a number two with two cheeseburgers. >> what are you doing with number two? can i help you, sir if. >> can i get a number 2 and a number 13? >> 13 number 2s and a number 11? >> two number 2 and a number 13. >> one number 2 -- >> two number 12. >> wait, you have to say it very, very slowly. >> okay. two number -- >> okay. number two. i got that. number two. >> no. >> no. we're splitting it. there's two of us in the car. we're splitting a meal. >> you're splitting a meal. well can you prove that? >> two number 12s. 12. >> two minus 12. a number 10? >> and a number 13. >> you want a number 13? >> yeah. and a number 12. >> so you want a 25 in. >> no. >> ooh, ma'am. ma'am. miss? miss? >> yes. >> you could get fired for that. stop. you got to give people what they want. can't say stuff like that! >> i'm really confused, sir. if you can't give me a proper order i think you're going to have to go somewhere else. anything to drink? >> it comes with a coke. >> i think it is a diet coke. right? >> no, no, no, no! >> two diet cokes. come on through. >> sir, our slogan is "i'm lovin' it," so you need to put your order in with "i'm lovin' it"? >> can i get a fish filet with an order of fries and i'm lovin' that, too. >> you messed that up a little bit. put it behind it. >> two angus burgers -- i'll start all over again. okay? i'm lovin' it. two angus burgers with cheese and one order of french fries with that. >> whoa, whoa, what order of french fries? >> i'm lovin' it for an order of french fries. >> all right, you got it, sir, i'm lovin' you. >> thank you. >> i can help you? >> hi. can i have a number seven. >> oh, that's on special order today. you just have to get out of the car and do your best mcdonald's dance. where we can see you. that's good. i want more. >> really. >> come on. this is a number seven. and while you're dancing i want to hear you say i'm lovin' it, i'm lovin' it. >> i'm lovin' it. >> all right. get in the car! >> thank you. >> pick up your meal. hello, may i help you, sir? >> yeah, let me have a third-pounder. >> wait a minute. oh, my goodness. i don't believe it. oh, my gosh -- robert d diniro,s it you? don't try to trick me behind the glasses. i love, love your movie. i loved "analyze this." robert? mr. diniro? i are robert diniro. >> no, i'm not robert diniro. are you going to wait on me or am i going to leave? i want a third-pounder meal and a diet coke with no ice. >> all right, thank you, sir. i mean bob -- i mean not bob, you're not bob diniro. >> can you drop me off at the stop inn shop? i'm getting off now. >> who are you talking to? >> i'm asking you. i'll get your stuff ready. please, please, my car's broken. >> wait, let me drive up. let me drive up. >> you're going to give me a ride? don't leave. stay right there. i can't thank you enough. i'll hop in the back. what's your name? susan. darling. nice to meet you. meredith. gosh, your car's a ms here. geez louise! >> we have finally found -- >>he job for me? >> your sense of humor is rfectly suited. >> and mcdonald's survived. >> you know what w amazing? how accommodating -- you noticed this. honice pple are. how obnoxious could i possibly be? the worst i've been? >> robert diniro wasn't so nice. >> no, he wasn't lovin' it. but mos people tried to accept i was a little bit difficult and toork with me, no one w screaming or yelling. >> i loved the wom who was willing to tellyou, "you could get fired for this." >> but we did do o this piece in the suburbs. not in manhattan whereomething else would have happened, where people might have been a little bit more tense. >> i've just goto say, "i'm lovin' it." >> it was a lot of fun. i guess tomorrow i'm going to madamtousseux's wax museum. scare some tourists. >>un. >> we're good at it. up next, from innocent "full house" star to a life out o of control, we'll talk to jodie sweetin right after this. ahh, this is just what the eight layers needed. hey guys, sorry we're late. milk looks warm. finally got the whole gang together: maple brown sugar, strawberry delight, blueberry muffin. yeah, a little family reunion. ( blowing, shouting ) what now? we're cereal here! what? just cooling it down. - enough said. - gotcha. yeah, safety first. whoo hoo! watch the whole grain. try kellogg's frosted mini-wheats hot. just add warm milk and you've got a hot, new way... to keep your kids full and focused all morning. oops! dude, your eight layers are showing. mini-wheats hot. keeps 'em full, keeps 'em focused. well-informed people are considering chevy malibu. you a cop? no. you didn't hear from me, but this malibu is a best buy. i heard that from consumers digest. it offers better highway mileage than a comparable camry or accord. estimated 33 highway. i saw that on the epa site. so how come the malibu costs so little. it's a chevy. you have cop hair. the award-winning chevy malibu. compare it to anyone and may the best car win. but my allergies put me in a fog. so now, i'm claritin clear! claritin works great on all my allergies like dust, mold, pollen, or pets without making me drowsy, cause i want to be alert around this big guy. live critin clear. doors and out. what shape are your kids in? campbell's kid soups add a unique naturalea salt for a healthy level of sodium and no artificial flavors. they're a healthy lunch choice you can both feel great about. ♪ so many, many reasons ♪ it's so m'm! m'm! good! ♪ i'm a free runner... ...national champion gymnast... ...martial artist... and stuntwoman. if you want to be incredible, eat incredible. announcer: eggs. incredible energy for body and mind. (guitar music) the holidays are always so busy. gram, the video game thingy's stuck again. remember, you have to jiggle it. ( doorbell rings ) we never get the time to tell people stuff. ♪ say what you need to say ♪ say what you need to say ( holding last note ) we couldn't have made it through this last year without you, mom. this year, appreciation may be the best gift of all. a hallmark card. it's the biggest little thing you can do. we're back at 8:21. with former child star jodie sweetin. for eight years she played stephanie tanner on the hit sitcom "full house." take a look. >> if he could talk i'm sure he would say -- hahahaha. >> more than decade later, she's telling her story in the book "unsweetined," a frank account abt growing up onset and the turbulent years o drug addiction and turmoil tha followed. goodmorning. did you like the eight years on "ful house"? >> i led the eight years on "full house." it really was a wonderful perience in my life. >> when you left e show -- you starte when you were -- >> i was 5. >> you end when you're 13. you wry in t you write if the book stephanie's image w squeak request-clean, goodie two-shoes. you set out in some ways to become the antistephanie. >> yeah. going to school everybody expected you to be stephanie tanner and to be one way. i think part of establishing myself as a separate entity from stephanie all those years, i kind of did everything that i could in the beginning to be everything but stephanie tanner. >> you write that you had your first drink -- a weding? >> yes. it wast a wedding. i was 13 or 14. >> you say were you never the me. that it was a pivotal moment. once had you that first drink you were never the same. >> yeah. it was the beginni of my drinki and using and f me, was -- i had always been looking i guess for that thing made me fit in my own skin and like i was like everye else. th i found alcohol and drugs and that was to continue for the next few years. >> if the alcohol started at a wedding, how did the drugs start? >> the drugs really didn't start -- there were occasional times that i ske pot during high school and thing like that but the real heavy drug use really didn' start actually til my early 20s until after i had had a period of sobriety. i had experimented colle. >> make sure what we're understand. you were doing meth, you were dog cocaine. >> yes. >> and yet you managed in some ways to let the people around you think that everythingas still pretty cool. >> yeah. yeah. it w -- i was leading two completely different lives a that was somethinghat i talk about in t book that i had kind odone all of my life w be two different peoe simultaneously. >> you were acting basically. >> yeah. >> you wri once you did the drugs and you got io recovery, that you went on kind of a covery tour. you started going outelling the story of recovery on television and you started to give speeches to students at universities. >> right. one of the things that stands out in the book it me, you were getting ready to go to mquette university to talk totudents about recovery and what it was like to live clean and sober, and you were anything but. >> right. when it fir came out that i had gone through rehab and that i was trying get things together, it wasn't of my o choosing that that story ce out and i don't think that i was really in a place at that point in my life to really d what it ok to be honest and toet to a place where what i was saying was actually true and that ias actually livinby those principl in my life. you know, this book was rlly a chance nfor me toinally tell the storwhere i wanted to tell it and get to a place where i was rea to be honest. >> but eight hours before you speak to these sdents about sobriety, u're sitting with your face in a pile of drugs. is an amazing contradiction. >> yeah, it is it is something i wish i could change. >> motherhd changed things. your daughter zoe is 18 months old now. i was doing a little of the math and some of the hints you dropped in the book. i wonder have you been clean and sober throughout her entire life? >> not throughout her entire life. i will have a year clean and sober on december 8th. there were occasional instances of me drinking and ming some really poor choices. but now'll have -- i'm almost a yearlean and sober and i hope that she will never have to see somef the things that i did before. >> is there a lesson here? we hear a lot about child stars. is there aeal quick lesson? >> you know what? think that everybody has to go through these things some of us have to d it more publicly but i'm just really fortunate that i g >> live, local, latebreaking. this is wbal-tv 11 news today in baltimore. >> good morning. i am mindy basara. let's get a final check of the morning commute with traffic pulse 11 and sarah caldwell. >> if you are heading out anytime soon, east and 140, in reisterstown, but crashed there and lanes closed. a owings mills, watch for a vehicle fire. at ruxton road, an accident report coming in. southbound 795 and the west side of loop at reisterstown road. into the backing down approaching the j.f.x. 24 minutes is your drive time on the outer loop west side. 15 on the northeast outer loop. here is a live view of traffic this morning. a pretty slow pace. this extends all the way down through to edmondson. 95 has not been all that bad this morning thankfully, a bit lighter towards the 895 split. >> things are pretty quiet in the with the department. a couple of sprinkles on the eastern shore. this system is slowly pulling away. a mixture of clouds and a little bit of sunshine. the forecast for today is a mixture of clouds and a little sunshine. maybe a shower on the eastern shore. high temperatures this afternoon between 83 and 58 degrees. in a little warmer tomorrow. a slight chance for a few rainshowers on wednesday and thursday. thursday we will struggle to get out of the 40's. looks like a decent weekend coming up. >> we will have another update at 8:55. hey there, this is your lamp. why don't you show the lady how romantic you can be by turning me off? you'll set the mood while using a lot less energy. maybe later you can hook me up with a cfl. it will show how much you care for the environment. [announcer] learn to speak the language of energy efficiency at bgesmartenergy.com, where you'll find plenty of energy-saving tips. ahhhhh. the passion. 8:30 now on this monday morning,ovember 2nd, 2009. we hav drawn a happy crowdo our little corner of rockefeller plaza. we're delighted to have so many people start their morng with us. especially monday morning. you think will anybody show up? and they did. coming up in this half-hour, a man and his dog. they met in war-torn iraq. when that marine was relocated more than 70 miles away, the dog followed him. now they are both here in the states. we'll meet them just ahead. it is a real story about love and companionship. he turned it into a wonderful book. also ahead, how safe is your kitchen. not talking about knives and child proof latches. i'm talking about germs and bacteria an things you need to know before you prepare another meal. we'll have those things coming up. >> that sponge can't be good. and so far, the reactions to our kid reporters, to say the least, priceless. >> yeah! the search continues. >> she is so excited. she couldn't stop dancing. there's another one. we're going to meet four more contenders this morning. one of them is going to go to the final round. first a check of the weather from mr. roker. as far as the week ahead is concerned, dch temperature departures, talking nice and warm out west. reno, nevada, 12 degrees above normal. nine in los angeles. chicago three degrees above normal. temperatures will be minus 3 in new york -- no, not that chilly. three degrees belo >> off toward quiet start this work week it made a couple speckles of the eastern shore counties. most of us, just clouds and sunshine. >> don't forget, you can check your weather any time of the day or night on weather channel on cable or weather.com. up next, a mutt, a marine and a miracle. but first, this is "today" on nbc. love to save? shop with your giant card card and save on thousands of deals. like pepsi 2 liter assorted flavors, 10 for $10, rinaldi pasta sauce, 10 for $10, and other weekly specials and real deal savings. enjoy more savings. only with your giant card. tightening your purse strings? shop with your giant card card and save on thousands of deals. like dial soap, 8 pack, $3.99, dunkin donuts bagged coffee, now $6.99, and other real deal savings and weekly specials. enjoy more savings. only with your giant card. now to one man's powerful bond with man's best friend. the story begins with a simple act of kindness from a marine stationed in iraq. and it is told in the new book "nubs the true story of a mutt, a marine and a miracle." marine major brian dennis and nubs, good morning. go back to the fall of 2007, brian. your second tour of duty if iraq. your assignment is to help train iraqi soldiers. you go to one of these border ports near the western border of iraq and there are always stray dogs around these forts but there's something special about this dog. what was it about this dog? >> you know, as soon as i met him he kind of just jumped up and started playing with me. actually some of the pictures in the book is like the first time we ever met. he just kind of flipped over on his belly, started rubbing his belly and we just kind of had -- really my whole team, we just kind of bonded with him as soon as we met him. obviously he is a unique character. his ears were cut off so we just started calling him nubs. >> why were his ears cut off in. >> you know, one of the iraqi soldiers ended up doing it. i guess sometimes they do that, they said to make the dogs tougher or something. the iraqis actually use the dogs as like an early warning system. they let them live around the border ports so they'll alert them of anyone approaching. doesn't make much sense to me. >> you took to the dog and the dog obviously took to you. over the next couple of months you'd go back and forth to that fort and you would see him. at one point he had been stabbed in the side with a screwdriver but somebody and you thought you were going to lose him. >> yeah, that's right. every couple weeks or so we'd end up patrolling up in that same area of the border. this one time when i went up there he had a big wound on his left side. one of the other iraqis had told me that one of the soldiers had gotten mad and stabbed him with a big screwdriver. he looked terrible. we didn't think he was going to make it. he was all infected. it was bad. >> but he not only made it, he remained your buddy whenever you'd be there. finally in january you take off to go 70 miles to the border with jordan essentially eye assu -- assuming you might never see the dog again. he starts to follow but you're in humvees, he can't catch up. couple of days later, what happens? >> that's the big mystery. but he saw the direction we went and he just took off and started off the direction we went. like i said, 70, 75 miles or so is how far he ended up walking. he found our team. it was just the craziest thing when he walked up. just amazing. >> it must have been a shock to you to suddenly see the dog. >> it was. i was actually inside the eyira battalion headquarters. they're like nubs is outside. i'm like, it can't be nubs, there's no way. i go running out there, he just jumps up on me, he was going crazy. >> he became basically the mascot for you guys. but it is against military rules to have dogs. >> it is. >> you were reported. they basically said to you, commander said get rid of the dog or else. >> get rid of the dog or else is pretty much it. you know, we knew that -- we wouldn't have actively brought a dog back with us. we knew it was against the rules. but since he followed us, we're kind of overlooked it, like we're in the middle of nowhere, who can it hurt. but some of the people got upset and basically told on us. the commander said get rid of the dog. >> instead you made it your mission to get that dog to the united states. it cost about $5,000. you put out basically a plea over the internet to raise money for the dog. >> yeah. i just kind of sent e-mail to some friends, like hey, it is going to cost a lot of money. if you want to chip in, feel free, we're going to rescue the little guy. the response was overwhelming. so many people wanted to help. it was pretty cool. >> your interpreter's brother i guess took him over the border into jordan. he was flown out from jordan after i guess the jordanian king's veterinarian checked him out? >> yeah, absolutely. >> then he took a plane ride to chicago, hooked up with friends of yours. then to san diego. >> yep. >> you're still in iraq. you finally get back to san diego in march 2008. what was that reunion like? >> it was awesome. i mean i was about a month behind him. basically as soon as i see him he just goes crazy again, jumps up on me and is all excited to see me. the reunion was great. when he first came back though we had some adjustment issues. a good friend of mine, graham, with snug pet resort in san diego ended up taking him in, really working with him, really just totally just -- just made him -- i can't say enough how much my friend graham helped me. my friends eric and chrissy took him in, adopted him. >> we think so often about our men and women who are fighting overseas and what they are up against emotionally as well as physically. what does this dog mean to you? >> i think a lot of soldiers, marines, connect with dogs out there and -- the more i heard from a lot of people who have been in vietnam and even world war ii, people -- i guess it is an escape, that's what it was for my team. dogs out there. people who are dog people, you just get it. dog comes running up to you with his tail wagging. it was an escape from the drudgery, mundane life out there at times, bad things you'd see at times. it was an escape and now it is a friend. >> you helped him escape from the bad time. it is a wonderful story. really about companionship and love. >> i feel lucky. i got a little buddy. it's pretty cool. >> thanks you so much. thank you, nubs. he's really chillin' now that he's a california guy obviously. the book is "nubs -- the true story( piano music playing )d a by putting an end to paper medical records, we have ushered health into the digital age. saving lives, sometimes when seconds count. managing chronic conditions. making amazing new discoveries. and, oh yes, saving a lot of trees. kaiser permanente. thrive. "healthy home today" is brought to you by the clorox company. helping you prevent the spread of the flu virus this flu season. we're back now at 8:43. this morning an "today's healthy home," your kitchen. there are a lot of potential danger zones from cutting boards to counter tops. how do you protect yourself and your family? the editor in chief of requested good housekeeping" magazine is here, rosemary, always good to have you here. when we talk about the level of threat in our kitchen, talking about things that are going to gross us out or make us really sick? >> both. you can get sick by any number of ways in your kitchen because it is just a prime place for bacteria to grow. especially in cold and flu season, you need to be extra careful. >> let's start with the kitchen sink. you store dishes in there, food goes down the drain. how do we make sure it is clean and not spreading those germs you're talking about? >> at least once a week clean it with either always hot water and a bleach-based spray or antibacterial spray. >> even stainless steel, germs grow on this? >> yeah, yeah. absolutely. all sorts of things are going in and out of their all the time. it is the place in your kitchen that sees the most action. use hot water. if you want it dry it, use a paper towel, throw it away. >> sponges. we hear a lot about these. it doesn't take long for a sponge to get really ugly and dirty. you can only imagine what's growing in all those little holes. >> these are little laboratories for bacteria. we sent these sponges home with a bunch of consumers. they used them for a week an came back to the good housekeeping research institute. we tainted spongs wies with bacteria. >> i've married people say microwave sponges, boil them and use all kinds of vinegar and stuff. >> here are the two things that work. fail-safe -- three ounces of breech, half-gallon of water, let it sit for five minutes. at my house i saturate it, toss in the microwave on high for two minutes. that killed 99.9% of all germs. the minute they begin to disintegrate, get rid of them. >> talk about cleaning dishes now. all kinds of antibacterial soaps out there. how good are they? >> at the don't work on dishes. they have a different active ingredient from the antibacterial spray use in your sink. it is designed to kill germs on hands so they don't get dishes any cleaner. experts actually recommend that you not use them because they don't want to encourage bacteria resistant forms growing. overusing this kind of soap with do that. >> creating super bacteria and super germs. when you use your dishwasher, use that sanitizing cycle. do you like that? >> yeah. especially if somebody in your house is sick. you don't have to do it every time but whenever cold and flu are around, use a sanitizing cycle on hot water. >> what if you don't have one? >> double hot water. >> as hot as you can make it. cutting boards. these carry and breed germs. you like plastic over wooding ones? >> we tested everything from bamboo, plastic, wood, glass. plastic is the all-around best choice. you can put it in the dishwasher. it holds up to a lot of wear and tear. it takes hot water. left to keep separate cutting boards from meat and for things like vegetables and fruit. >> always a good idea. storing food. what do you want us to know about that? >> the biggest mistake that people make is they leave food out for two long. there is a two-hour rule. >> anything perishable, no longer than two hours. >> absolutely. people think they can't put hot food that's just been cooked into the fridge. but you can. put it in a smaller container, pop in the refrigerator. your fridge can take it and you'll be much safer in the long run. >> people wonder, coffee, it's been in the coffeemaker for several hours,ky reheat it safely. your word on this is -- >> you good news is you can. coffee is too acidic for bacteria to grow. unless it has milk in it, heat it up that night, even if you made it in the morning. >> good information as always, rosemary ellis. when we come back, luxury living in college. you won't believe what some of today's dorm rooms look like. but first, this is "today" on nbc. on issues important to seniors, senators mikulski and cardin have been leaders, fighting to make health care more affordable and to make sure seniors have access to the medicines their doctor prescribes. now maryland senators can improve medicare and help close the donut hole without raising premiums on seniors by as much as 20%, which some proposals would do. call today -- ask senators mikulski and cardin to support the senate health care reform bill. because we can improve medicare without making seniors pay more. college dorms. those two words may summon memories of pea green krinder block to you. but some college students are taking it to the next level. >> reporter: it is the hot address. sweeping views from floor-to-ceiling windows. original art in the lobby. sun-splashed swimming pools. but these aren't luxury condos. they're college dorms. >> it's pretty cool. i have no complaints. >> reporter: boston university, to indiana's purdue university, to arizona state university, welcome to the amenity ward. college deans are sounding more like real estate agents. >> overall i think this is one of the best views that you'll be able to see. it is a wonderful, soothing space. >> reporter: the rooms are mostly single. some in multi--bedroom apartments. at purdue's new 1st street towers, students have private bathrooms that the university cleans once a week. have you had roommates? >> yeah. >> how did that go? >> the first year, could have been better. >> reporter: bu's student village apartments feature new kitchens. >> brand-new stove. my mom said it is nicer than hers. >> to living in an office building to like a luxury high-rice apartment, really there is no comparison. >> reporter: it comes at a price. at bu and purdue, about $5,000 a year more than traditional dorm rooms. in a slumping economy when some families can't afford college at all, others are willing to pay a premium. >> today's students are demanding this. the parents are demanding this. >> reporter: purdue's new dorm triggered a volley of letters to the editor in the student newspaper. one calling it a snooty residence hall populated by "little aristocrats." this 1st street resident is on full scholarship and works to cover the extra cost. >> what did you do to make sure you got a slot? >> i woke up really early. i got on the computer at the earliest time. >> are you someone who normally gets up early? >> no. >> reporter: for this bu senior, living in her high-rice dorm poses another challenge. how could she possibly match it when she graduates? >> i can just imagine when i'm living in the first apartment that i'm paying for myself and the entire apartment is the size of this living room. >> reporter: welcome to the real world. for "today," john yang, nbc news, west lafayette, indiana. >> that kid's right. the real world's going to be a slap in the face. >> holy cow! >> i love cinder blocks covered with posters. >> and hot plates. >> we are old! all this year, tom brokaw and usa network are capturing the changing faces of the country in a documentary "american character along highway 50." this morning tom takes us to the western slope of the rockies to meet a young farmer dedicated to changing the way eewe aet. >> reporter: it's been called the backbone of america, one highway that cuts through the heart of a changing nation. and at every crossroad, a new story. u.s. highway 50. we'll take this road all the way to california in search of the american character. mile 2,107, montrose, colorado. here on a mesa sits a young farmer who is at the forefront of a revolution to change the way we eat. >> everything that's in the grocery store comes out of the factory, confined feeding operations. >> reporter: he thinks most americans would be shocked to see the inner workings of these mass scale industry farms. he says it is unhealthy for us, the animals and the environment. >> it just makes you sick. it makes you want to cry, then it makes you want do something about it. >> reporter: here, downs raises animals as nature intended, beginning with what they're fed. >> we specialize in 100% grass-fed beef. they're not meant to eat corn like we've been doing in this country since the '40s. cows turn corn into cheap fat. grass-fed meat is less fat. >> reporter: there's plenty of room to roam. not packed feed lots that can breed e. coli and require livestock to be pumped full of antibiotic and steroids. healthy animals make healthy meat. there is a huge debate in this country going on about health care and a big part of that is wellness. in a way you are an important link to all of that. >> like your grandma said, are you what you eat. if you're eating overprocessed food you won't be a healthy human being. >> reporter: it sounds simple but it involves long hours, little profit, and he sometimes feels the system is working against him. >> i don't understand why the corporations are the ones that are getting subsidies and not small farmers like us. i'm not going to feed the whole world this way but if a farm like mine pops up every five miles down the road we can change this entire food system. so if you want clean food, go visit a farmer. somebody who cares about what you're putting in your body. that's how you correct the food system. you lessen the distance between the farmer and the consumer. >> reporter: 2,107 miles down -- 966 to go. >> nice. >> makes total sense, that guy. >> gorgeous. moo! >> i just wanted to know if he was marry. not for me! no, he's a good guy. smart man. >> all the healthy eating thing went right over your head. >> no, we got all of it. >> live, local, latebreaking. this is wbal-tv 11 news today in baltimore. >> good morning. i am mindy basara. after a month of warning, city police will begin sending a tickets for those caught on speed cameras exceeding the speed limit could police must review the tapes and determine if the individual is going 12 mi. an hour or more over the speed limit. a 40 doubt -- $40 ticket will be mailed to violators. during the past month, the speed cameras captured on average 50 violators per day. >> now let's take a look at the forecast with tony pann. >> things are pretty quiet on this monday. on the eastern shore counties, a slight chance for couple sprinkles. basically just a mixture of clouds and sunshine. more sunshine in the mountains than over on baltimore. seven-day forecast. warmer on tuesday. 63. couple of weeks systems on wednesday and thursday. by thursday, we will struggle to get out of the 40's. >> we will have another update in 25 minutes. about all the discounts we're offering. i've got some catchphrases that'll@ make these savings even more memorable. gecko: all right... gecko: good driver discounts. now that's the stuff...? 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