oprah: a young father. blind. iconic journalist bob woodward, and first lady michelle obama. oprah: hello, everybody. i'm siafer is a 43-year-old computer peggy siafer, a 37-year-old makeover, and here is peggy >> that looks nice. you look ah, the eighties. that was rich this show back in season one. then. stuff in the eighties. oprah: oh, my goodness. >> i was wearing parachute oprah: were you? >> i mean, so-- guys! peggy sue and rich. stand from all my people that work for for the whole thing, so we least you had a good experience. did you keep that going? should give some advice or sage perfectly made-over people. when you start getting more the old--not the kilt, but maybe day and try and take snippets of oprah: yeah. to use it to sort yourself? >> thank you. oprah: bye, everybody. thank you. king world] ♪ [ male announcer ] nature valley sweet & salty nut bars... they're made from whole roasted nuts and dipped in creamy peanut butter... ♪ ...making your craving for a sweet & salty bar... ♪ .irresistible. by nature valley. ♪ rich, indulgent chocolaty brownies you don't have to open your oven... just the refrigerator. ready-to-eat pillsbursweet moments. find them in the refrigerated section of your store. t i've got a warm, fresh baked strawberry toaster strudel. see the difference? mmmm. i do. 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[ female announcer ] charmin ultra strong. enjoy the go. and for an extra-clean finish, try charmin freshmates. gorgeous shot right there. i love a bargain a gorgeous shot of new york right there. well, i love a bargain. do you love a bargain? are you a bargain shopper? >> absolutely. >> some things are really too good to be true. i'm talking about those so-called designer flea markets which you can find chanel bags selling for 50 bucks or something like that. >> right. and that's something that's crazy. >> it would be a bargain if it were real. >> that's the problem. our consumer correspondent elisabeth leamy went undercover with authorities and found those designer items, some of them are not only fake but possibly even dangerous. take a look. >> reporter: the chase is on. to capture suspected counterfeiters. >> stop resisting! >> reporter: and shut down an underworld of fakes. it may look like sheer chaos, but this is actually a carefully executed sting. hours before the raid, the north carolina secretary of state's office gathers police officers from across the state to launch "operation faux pas". >> right here is where the dvds and the shoeing probably will be. >> reporter: they have to catch vendors actually selling the fakes to press charges. so four undercover teams will go in first. >> sergeant king's team is going to make a buy. they're going to have the vendor under surveillance. >> reporter: why so aggressive? because of this woman. secretary of state elaine marshall. >> if we can make it, somebody can fake it. >> reporter: her office runs the most intense anticounterfeiting operation in the country. they've seized more than $12 million worth of fakes in the past year alone. >> organized crime has found that we as americans think it's funny to buy something that we clearly know is a knockoff. >> reporter: you can buy fake products at a fraction of the price, but at what cost? marshall says some are dangerous, others made by child labor. plus, north carolina has seized illegal drugs and weapons that were shipped right alongside the counterfeits. >> we're seriously talking about organized crime. laundering things through south america and bringing them into america. >> hey, how much? >> reporter: back at the flea market, we are undercover, too. we're looking for a brown one. suddenly vendors start to pack up. where are you going? >> they said the cops are here so we're packing. >> reporter: some take off running. they don't get far. police arrest six suspects in all. when we talked to them, most deny selling counterfeits or being part of a larger network. >> i didn't sell anything to anybody. >> reporter: because of north carolina's tough stance, they could face felony charges. do you realize what a risk that is in this state? >> now i do. >> reporter: authorities say often the vendors are low-level players, forced to sell to pay off a debt. are they making you work out here selling this stuff? >> it's not even my stuff. >> reporter: later, at a secret warehouse nearby, officers count and catalog all the merchandise, now evidence in criminal cases. the final tally? more than $700,000 in confiscated counterfeits. counterfeiters are getting way better at making fakes that look like the real thing, with the right stitching on purses, the right movement on watches. but there is always one sure way to tell a fake. and that is, if the cost is way cheaper than it normally would be. in washington, elisabeth leamy, abc news. >> seems too be good -- what is it? seems too good to be true, it probably is. that's true for the handbags as well. >> no ♪ skinny so skinny i love how you guys -- you're up to date on "celebrity apprentice." for anyone watching the show, that's what we're talking about in "the skinny." we're talking about star jones versus lisa rinna. it's getting very dirty, very ugly. star jones is alleging lisa rinna started a campaign of anti-star sorts of tweets and e-mails, that has really helped to disgrace star on the show. lisa's off the show. apparently that's when these tweets and e-mails started. she says, in fact, one of the -- one of the pictures was a shot of lisa rinna posing next to a horned monster. she captioned the photo, hey, look, here's a great photo of me and star jones. >> yeah, lisa rinna was the sort of project manager on the last task on sunday night's episode and she really butted heads with star jones. seems like this has spilled over -- >> it's getting pretty serious. star has gone to the legal team at nbc and mark burnett productions. she says she's been harassing me and i want it to stop. we'll have to see what happens. >> absolutely, we'll see what happens there. rihanna making headlines about the relationship with her estranged father, ronald. apparently she's talking -- she did a big thing for "vogue" and she's on the cover. she's opening up -- >> she looks good. >> she does look good. the hair, interesting choice, by the way. >> red hair. >> very, very red hair. no doubt about that. very appropriate for st. patrick's day. i suppose. >> there you go, yes. >> so, yes. she's talking about her estranged father and sort of opening up about this relationship. she said to "vogue" she says, like what do i even mean to him? it's really strange. >> because he sort of sold her out, right? >> that's what she's saying. >> which we have also another story about that coming up. we do have happy hollywood news. guess what's going to happen next week? looks like reese witherspoon is going to marry her caa agent beau, jim toth. >> there he is. >> he's a handsome fella. he's very tall. >> now, i don't think -- is he actually her agent? >> i don't know. >> i don't think he's -- yeah, he's not her agent because he didn't want any conflict there. but an agent at caa. look, nobody's starving if that house. >> no, i'd say they're both going to do very well. they're a good pair because they're both in that same soup, at the same events. they began dating in early 2010, he popped the question in december. they're going to get married in ojai, which is a little place north of los angeles. >> yeah. she had that big relationship with ryan phillippe -- >> the one she was married to? >> yeah, that's right. >> and had two kids with? >> yeah, that one. i'm so up to date on this stuff. >> okay. >> that was sad. >> yeah, that was sad. come on now. >> let's talk about katy perry, >> let's. >> she's always a good segue. katy perry's mom is apparently shopping a book about her life. now, katy perry's parents run a christian ministry. so, apparently katy perry's mother is mary, is not happy with the way katy perry is living her life, especially since she was involved in this christian upbringing. perry has said we were never allowed to swear. i'd get into trouble for just saying "hell no". >> she had to say things like jiminy christmas. instead. like if she wanted to -- you know, that was kind of like the worst expletive she could utter. she has this wonderful career. i wonder what the parents think of russell brand, though, because he's a bit of a wild child. >> that could be part of the ambience. last few seconds. a sad note. nate dog of the r&b and rap world has died at the age of 41. of course, he did a lot of projects with snoop dogg. not known exactly the cause of death but dead at age 41, nate dogg. >> very sad. we'll be back. dogg. >> very sad. information for pe. maybe you don't think you're at isk for heart attack or stroke but if you've been diagnosed with p.a.d., or have pain or heaviness in yur legs, i want to talk to you. you may have heard of poor leg circulation, which could be peripheral artery dsease, or p.a.d. with p.a.d., if you have poor circulation in your legs, you may also have poor circulation in your heart or in your brain, your risk for heart attack or stroke is more than doubled with p.a.d. now, ask yourself: am i at risk? 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[ male announcer ] make the switch. take action. take advil. save on advil with our special coupon in select newspapers on march 27th. here are the developments we're following this morning on the disaster in japan. president obama is allowing family members of u.s. government workers in japan to evacuate. arrangements are being made for charter flights. an earlier white house order told americans in japan to stay at least 50 miles away from the fukushima nuclear plant. japanese military helicopters have been dropping water on that crippled plant today. they're hoping the aerial assault will cool off the reactors and avoid a total meltdown. the japanese stock market opened lower today. taking back yesterday's gains. the yen soared to a new high against the dollar on the currency markets. finally, while the world watches the tragic events in japan, many wonder what we can do here to help. this includes one little massachusetts girl. >> she sprang into action selling her most precious items in hopes that she can help those who need it the most. here's tricia taskey of our affiliate wggb. >> here. >> this is autumn. and it's going to be hard for me to give her away. >> reporter: 7-year-old sage freeman is parting with some of her toys. >> this is tigger. >> tigger is going to be hard. >> reporter: the florence, mass, girl is selling some of her toys, books, and clay sculptures she makes to raise money for those devastated by the earthquake and tsunami in japan. >> it's sort of hard to sell my toys and books but it's not that hard to make the sculptures. >> reporter: she came up with the idea after learn being the disaster in her first grade class. >> saturday morning she woke up and she said, mommy, i have a really strong feeling i need to help the people in japan. she said to me, mommy, i have a lot of toys. i could sell my toys and give the money to the people in japan. >> reporter: they remembered shelter gaiz >> they sen inside the bx tend big enough for ten people and a multi-fuel stove, gs, blankets. >> reporter: sage's letter explaining her plan was sent out on a mass e-mail and it took off. >> a lot of people have be anythng. we want to you keep your >> reporter: she's already reached her $1,000 goal. >> she hit her goal on monday night. by monday night she'd made over $1,000. >> reporter: sage really did this whole project on her own but her mother did have to help her with a f thi, hookin h created her own web page so people could make d easier. they'll be collecting those donations for a few moweks if you would like to contribute this morning on "world news now" -- breaking news from japan. family members of u.s. government workers in japan are urged to leave the country. >> charter flights are being arranged to evacuate americans as japan tries to prevent a nuclear meltdown. it's thursday, march 17th. >> announcer: from abc news, this is "world news now." good morning. i'm peggy bunker. >> i'm mike marusarz in for rob nelson. the president's decision to allow the u.s. evacuations comes as japanese military choppers dump water on that fukushima nuclear plant. but will this really help stop the meltdown? >> also ahead, we'll take a look at all the available options at fukushima as the situation grows more desperate hour by hour. difficult questions about power plant safety here in the u.s. and how our own nuclear program compares to japan's. we begin with the military flights over the crippled nuclear reactor, choppers dumping water in a final attempt to stop a full meltdown. >> the u.s. urgently insisted that japan take heroic steps to head off a catastrophe. indeed, the pilots of those choppers are probably facing death. t.j. winick has the latest. good morning, t.j. >> reporter: mike and peggy, good morning. it appears the situation at the plant continues to worsen, though there has been a lot of conflicting information between what japanese officials are saying and what is being said here in the u.s. workers who might very well be on a suicide mission are inside the fukushima nuclear power plant working in the dark with nothing but flash lights, wearing overalls and heavy hazardous suits, trying to put out toxic fires with a hose. >> they put their lives in their coworkers' hands and there's a trust and bond that everybody is absolutely going to do whatever is necessary to combat the situation. >> reporter: at reactor number one, 70% of the fuel rods are damaged. at reactors two and three, explosions are believed to have damaged the container around the vessel that holds the red hot nuclear core. the containers are five feet of cement, reinforced by steel. but if they give way, there will be no way to cool the core. it will melt down, sending toxic nuclear clouds into the air. and at reactor number four, even out-of-use fuel rods may be in danger of releasing plumes of radioactivity. >> they continue to believe there is a severe concern with the spent fuel pool number four because it does not have a sufficient cooling and water in the pool. >> reporter: radiation is already seeping out. people are lining up to be tested. at a washington fund-raiser, the president said japan and the u.s. are bound by a common humanity. >> reminded of how american leadership is critical to our closest allies, even if those allies are themselves economically advanced and powerful, there are moments where they need our help. >> reporter: of all the flights landing in the united states from japan on wednesday, none tested positive for radiation at harmful levels. mike and peggy? as we've been reporting this morning, the state department is evacuating family members of american government personnel who are in japan. the president told japan's prime minister his evacuation decision in a phone call just hours ago. there was already an earlier order from the white house, telling americans in japan to stay at least 50 miles away from that fukushima nuclear plant. the australian, british and german governments told their citizens they should consider leaving japan but did not order an official evacuation. the nuclear crisis has overshadowed the search for survivors of the earthquake and tsunami. heavy snow and freezing temperatures are also making it difficult for international teams working on the coast of japan. one british team member said they are still clinging to the hope of finding survivors. but it's mainly bodies being pulled from the rubble now. back here at home, the japan crisis has deepened worries about a nuclear catastrophe on u.s. soil. dan harris takes a look at whether any of those worries are warranted. >> reporter: the fear that what's happening over in japan could happen here in america was on full display on capitol hill. >> we have a situation that is scaring the life out of everybody. >> reporter: this is what democrat henry waxman said when asked whether american nuclear reactors are safe. >> no, i can't reach that conclusion nor can anybody at this point. the industry tells us to relax, we're okay. i wouldn't take anything like that at face value. >> reporter: waxman points out that those japanese reactors are the same ones used here in america at 16 different plants across the country. the reactors called the mark i built by general electric starting in the 1960s have been controversial for years. in the 1970 dale bridenbaugh and two colleagues became known as the ge-3 when they quit over safety concerns about the mark i reactors, which they feared were not large or strong enough to contain radiation in the event of a meltdown. in fact, ge specifically marketed the mark i as cheaper and easier to build. bridenbaugh is watching the events in japan fearfully. >> you know, it's frightening to me that we've gotten into this situation where thousands of people may lose their lives as a result of this. >> reporter: after the ge-3 quit back in 1975, the mark i reactors here in the u.s. all underwent safety modifications. ge tells abc news the mark is have, quote, a proven track record of performing reliably and safely for more than 40 years. but is 40 years too long for a nuclear reactor to be in operation? some experts we spoke to said, yes. >> these reactors are old and as a son of a car dealer, i believe you should rotate your metal every once in a while. >> reporter: we learned the governor of new york has ordered a safety review of a nuclear power plant that sits near a seismic fault line just 35 miles north of new york city. dan harris, abc news, new york. our coverage of the disaster in japan continues later this half hour with a look at all the options available to stop a disaster at the fukushima plant. we'll also have live updates all m