Dangerous. And dog napping. A canine caper caught on camera has a little dog is stolen under her owners noses. But the tale has a happy ending. January 17th 2015 from nbc news this is today with lester holt and erica hill were live from studio 1a in rockefeller plaza. Good morning. Welcome to today on a sad morning. Im leather holt. Erica and dillon are enjoying the day off. Right near the top, you can see daylight. Finally we ore on the way up. Finally. Its the little things. A little hint of sun. Anyway want to begin with our top story. Mitt romney making a run for the white house again. More fuel has been added to the fire after a speech he made last night during a Republican National committee meeting. Chris ten welker has more for us. Reporter mitt romney didnt say outright that he plans to run but he sounded a lot like a candidate when he spoke in california last night mapping out a platform. But hes missing a key ingredient for a third president ial bid. Broad support within his own party. Speaking to the Party Faithful in california mitt romney joked about the one thing on everyones mind. Let me state unequivocally that i have no intention of running for u. S. Senate in massachusetts. Reporter but the former rep nominee got serious fast mapping out what sounded like another platform for a run. Focused on National Security and opportunity for all, even taking direct aim at possible democrat contender hillary clinton. And the results of the foreign policy. And his wife ann. She believes people get better with experience. Reporter but there is skepticism in his own party. How is now going to be different from four years ago or four years before that . Reporter if he runs hes face off on what consider a strong field of primary candidates as the party tries to appeal to a broader case. Scott walker new jersey gove forchris christie rand paul and Tea Party Favorite texas senator ted cruz. Then theres former Florida Governor jeb bush who is already getting big donors on board. In 2012 most of the republican rising stars decided to stay on the sidelines. Theyre not on the sidelines this time. Reporter when asked about th. Reporter when asked about the news hes considering a bid, president obama deeyded to stay multiple. I have no comment. Reporter last night romney talked about raising up the poor trying to distance himself from 2012 when he was painted as an out of touch elitist who didnt care about the poor. Fuelled by his 47 comment. The rnc will have nine debates instead of 22 last time. A move to protect gop candidates from making potentially damaging remarks during debate. Lester . Waes the thinking here . He said he wouldnt run again. What might be change ing his thinking . Reporter first of all, romney has never been shy about acknowledging that heses always wanted to be president. Those close to him say he feels he has a case to make on foreign policy, especially given the crisises sin you ukraine and with isis. With jeb bush mulling over a run romney thought he would have to take steps now. The biggest problem for him is convincing republicans hell be a different candidatement the gop wants to win back the white house. Kristen welker, thanks. Now to the steppedup security across europe as the search continues for anyone who may have been involved in the deadly attacks in paris and plots in belgium. Nbcs bill neeley is in belgium. Good morning. Reporter good morning from the site where two suspected terrorists were shot dead by police on thursday Belgian Police still questioning suspects suspects being questioned across europe. All this of course part of the aftershock of the massacre in paris. The gunmen in the massacre were furious at the magazine charlie hebdo. The fury continues in europe and beyond. A muslim backlash is building in Algeria Police struggle to contain huge crowds angry that the frempblnch magazine once again published a cartoon of the prophet mohamed. In jordan, pictures of of the paris killers and confronted police. In pakistan protesters marched to the french consulate where police fired teargas. Protests in iran, turkey, and elsewhere. Muslims are rallying and europe is rattled. Dozens of armed Police Responded in paris to a deranged man in a post office. In belgium it was real. Police gathering evidence of the two armed men just back from syria. They shot and killed. Men who had weapons, explosives and Police Uniforms for an attack Police Believe was imminent. Police in germany arrested men for allegedly sending recruits to syria. In britain, Police Stepped up security at synagogues. Its a time for heightened aware withness awareness but not to be scared snrk britains Prime Minister was talking tough with president obama. The world is sickened by this terrorism. We will not be standing alone in this fight. We know what we are up against. It is widespread. It has penetrated communitieses around the world. Reporter the u. S. Is now promising more help to europe at a time of oh trouble and deep trauma. For the first time this morning, belgium is deploying troops to guard key sites. Its rewriting laws to deal with those radical threats. You know what happened here and in paris really sent a shiver across europe. Thanks bill. A the u. S. Supreme court greed to take up the question of samesex marriage. The justices will decide one of the biggest legal and cultural issues of this generation. Nbcs justice correspondent Pete Williams has more. Reporter in suburban detroit april and jane cheered the news that their legal fight will be part of a potentially historic uh ruling on gay rights. We set out oh for a goal. That was equality for our family. We are proud that we are affecting so many other familieses and proud that we are an inspiration for other families. Reporter the justices agreed to answer two questions can states refuse to grant marriage licenses to samesex couples and can states refuse to recognize samesex marriages legally performed somewhere else . The court takes up the questions after a surge of Court Rulings from coast to coast, striking down state bans on samesex marriage. Nearly 60 separate decisions in more than half a states over the past year and a half. There will not be many cases like this that we are going to look back in a hundred, 200, 300 years and say, gosh that was a critical moment in the countrys history. Reporter 36 states now permit gay couples to get married covering roughly 70 of the u. S. Population. The Supreme Courts order comes just threes months after it declined to take up the issue last fall an action that allowed samesex marriage to begin in 20 more states. Since then lower courtses have split on the issue. The Obama Administration says it will urge the court to rule in favor of samesex marriage saying it would help ensure equality for all americans. The cases will be argued in april. The court will issue its decision by late june. For today, Pete Williams, nbc news at the Supreme Court. More americans than ever will begin traveling to cuba now that a relaxed set of rules will make it easier to go to the island nation. You might be ready to go to cubament the question might be is cuba ready for you . Mark potter is in havana this morning. Mark good morning. Reporter good morning, sheinelle. There is widespread hope here that a lot more americans will soon visit cubament experts say it could be some time before that actually occurs. On the day of the new u. S. Travel rules went into effect there were hundreds of americans already visiting cuba. They and even those arriving today arranged their trips before the rule changes. Joining expensive tour groups controlled by the u. S. And cuban governments. We are learning about history a great deal. Were learning about the city. We have a lot of contact with the people. Its just a pleasure to be here a privilege. Reporter many wonder what it will look like when thousands of americans arrive here under the new, relaxed travel rules. At the Havana Airport friday american seener yors and a birdwatching group arrived for their tour. Welcome to cuba. Reporter believing travel here next time will involve less red tape. Certainly the red tape will lessen at least on the u. S. End. Reporter a question being raised here and especially in the United States is whether cuba, with its stagnant economy and a shortage of resources will be ready to embrace a flood of oh americans. Ex perts say cuba has a sizable tour ieconomy serving tourists from around the world but it needs time to prepare for more americans. Chris mcinnis thinks it could take several years. It will take a while before they can expand the airport, build hotels add taxicabs. Reporter still to be arranged, the use of american credit and debit cards here. Under the old rules u. S. Tourists could only carry cash. On the streets, many cubans say they are ready now for all the changeses to start taking place. And u. S. Officials say they hope this will lead to more opportunitieses for the cuban people and less reliance on the statecontrolled economy here as they also vowed to push cuba to improve the political and human rights record. Sheinelle . Thank you. Pope franciss trip to the philippines had to be cut short this morning. Peterer alexander hases that and other storieses. Good morning. Good morning. Pope francis arrived safely in manila after an approaching storm changed the pontiffs travel plans. Anne thompson joins us from the philippines with the latest. Anne . Reporter peter, i think the only thing that could rival pope francis for attention in the philippines is the weather. It forced changes in hi schedule today. It threatens tomorrows mega mass. It could be a water logged mess. The main reason for the popes visit to the philippines was to spend time with the victims of typhoon haiyan. He flew to tacloban as the storm approached. Instead of spending the day in the recovering area the pope was forced to cut short the trip but not before celebrating an emotion that will mass. Thousands of people in yellow ponchos, as was the pope listening with tears in their eyes as he told them he had to come to see them. He put aside his prepared homily and spoke from the heart saying these people are not alone and though they have suffered greatly, god will not let them down. The same Tropical Storm is headed to manila. We are basically under a Tropical Storm watch here. One to two inches of rain are predicted for tomorrow. Well see how that impacts the up to 6 Million People who are expected to attend the popes final mass of this visit. Peter . Anne thank you very much. Police closer to home in florida under fire for using mug shots of africanamerican men for target practice say they are suspending the Sniper Training program. The North Miami Beach police chief said the department realizes how, taken out of context the photos of the six black males in the lineup may appear to be offensive. Bill cosbys lawyer said he was not at the playboy mansion the night his accuser said she was attacked. He was in new york 2500 miles away. He intends to prove it. They met this week to detail her account of the alleged 2008 sexual assault. Hundreds of students at penn state took to the streets to celebrate the ncaa decision to restore 112 team victorieses stripped from the team amid the Jerry Sandusky child molestation scandal returning joe paterno to his place as Major College footballs winningest coach. For decadeses. He was ousted after the arrest of sandusky and al gags of a school coverup. Lawyers say the move sends the wrong message. The ravens struck a financial settlement with their former star running back ray rice who filed a grievance seeking more than 3. 5 million in back pay after his contract was terminated following the explosive video of oh rice hitting his then fiancee, now wife. The ravens said it is time to turn the page. They wish janae and ray the best. Rice remains a free agent. Nba history was made in l. A. Last night when Austin Rivers hit the court for the l. A. Clippers. He was playing for his dad doc rivers. Austin is now the first nba player to play for his father. Austin played more than 11 minutes. He didnt score. The clippers acquired him from the celtics as part of a threeteam deal. Aus austins dad said he finally has to listen to me. His allowance, 1. 8 million a year. He has to make his bed. Family affair. We have a check of the forecast. You guys, its frigid out therement the northeast. Not bad yesterdayment it got cold late in the evening. This is what we are waking up to. Look at this. It eat its minus 18 in watertown. Feels like minus 8 in boston. Minus 27 in caribou. This is serious cold in the northeast. Not everybody seeing it through the central plains. We have a january thaw. Temperatures up more good morning. 5 46 the time. Waking up to showers across the north bay. Everybody else waking up to clouds. Shower activity isolated today. Really north of San Francisco. Everywhere else 40s and 50 with clouds in place. Notice through the day, temperatures will be warm south bay, back to 67 degrees. 65 for the peninsula. East shore, more cloud cover at of 6. 64 San Francisco with showers for the morning. The same for the north bay. Spare the air. And thats a look at your saturday forecast. All right. Thank you very much. Nice to have you here. A maryland couple is under investigation for letting Young Children walk around town without supervision. It has sparked a heated debate over the right of parents to raise their children the way they want versus the kids safety. Here s kristen welker. Reporter danielle says part of growing up is learning how to do things on your own. Thats why she and her husband allow their 10yearold son and 6yearold daughter to walk short distances around their suburban maryland neighborhood by themselves. They need to learn that intangible thing we call street smarts. The only place to learn that outside. Reporter its called free range parenting, a rejection of the over protective helicopter parent. I feel safe because i know my parents have confidence in us. Reporter now this family is being investigated by Child Protective Services because last month police found the kids walking home from a park a mile away from home. Some of the roads get a lot of traffic. Does that concern you . Well if my children didnt know how to cross streets and if we hadnt spent time that would be a concern. My kids know. Reporter c p ps didnt talk to this case but says a child under the age of 8 cannot be left alone in a building enclosure or motor vehicle. They say their kids were walking outside so they didnt break the law. The founder of the free range kids. Our parents did it. Nobody blinked an eye and the crime rate was higher when we were growing up. Reporter according to the latest fbi study more than 58,000 kids were abducted by nonrelatives in one year. We are asking parents to talk to their children and have them know about safety. The kidnappings are rare. They are scary and dramatic but they just dont happen often. Reporter the family will meet with Child Protective Services next week with no planses to back down. For today, kristen welker, nbc news. A canadian couple was all shook up after their dog was stolen while the el vis presley fans were in memphis. Luckily their hound dog is back in their arms thanks to good samaritans. Kevin tibbles has more on the canine caper. Reporter a trip to celebrate Elvis Presleys 80s birthday turned into a trip to the heartbreak hotel. This tune ends happily. Canadian couple lori and terry travis had their dog dixie stolen from their truck as they were having dinner on Elvis Presley boulevard in memphis. Well give you money. Just bring the dog back please. Reporter dixie, a Yorkshire Terrier was grabbed by the neck and tossed into the back seat of a getawayer car, picked up by a camera. I cant believe people treat animals like that. Reporter a week went by and nothing as the traviss sat in a hotel, waited and hoped. Some in memphis offered to pick up the tab for the familys food and lodging. A Facebook Page was set up to assist with the search. Shes part of the family. Reporter late in the week a break. A series of tips led police to an address where dixie was found. Good deeds are done every day. Reporter the travises decided to drive back from houston. I just want my dog. Reporter just for this precious moment. Oh baby reporter while police questioned suspects seeking the hound dog responsible the memphis mayor awarded dixie with a special Police Citation and gave the travisses their own honor. You won the key to our hearts already. Now we are giving you the key to our great city. Thank you. Reporter for today, kevin tibbles, nbc news, chicago. The dogs like whatever, im good. Part of the family for sure. Still to come we saw how happy a dog can make its owner. The feeling is mutual and we have the pictures to prove it. First this is today on nbc. A remarkable thing has happened. Over a million californians have gotten something thats been out of reach for far too long. Health insurance. How . They enrolled through covered california. 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