Top headlines:
Video: How disguises played a part in hostage rescue: July 3: NBC's Mark Potter has more on "Operation Checkmate," the bold ruse behind the rescue of three American hostages from Colombian rebels.(Nightly News) ›23:12 3 Jul, Thu
The Hamburger: A History good to the last bite: Writing an ode to a single foodstuff is a road studded with pitfalls, but Josh Ozersky succeeds in "The Hamburger: A History," effectively a book-length essay on small slabs of ground-up cow and the buns that love them. ›03:22 26 Jun, Thu
Family fun! Plan a storybook vacation: When planning your next weekend getaway, why not bring your child's favorite book to life? Visiting the home of Tom Sawyer in Hannibal, Mo., or Eloise's royal room in New York City can help make their adventures your own. Trisha Thompson of Wondertime magazine offers some trips you can take to inspire young readers in your family. ›15:32 30 Jun, Mon
Video: McCain talks strategy: July 3: Sen. John McCain sits down with NBC's Kelly O'Donnell to talk about the recent shake-up in his campaign staff and the next strategic decision: his VP pick.(Nightly News) ›23:08 3 Jul, Thu
Google in deal with Brazil to fight child porn: Internet search company Google signed an agreement with Brazilian public prosecutors on Wednesday to help combat child pornography on its social networking site Orkut, an accord that the company believes is the first of its kind internationally. ›17:26 3 Jul, Thu
Have a diet dilemma? Ask Joy Bauer!: Are you struggling with how to lose weight? Are you frustrated about boring exercises? Are you having trouble curbing cravings? If you have any questions about successful dieting, e-mail TODAY and nutrition editor Joy Bauer may answer them. ›15:22 24 Jun, Tue
Are you smart? Take our weekly news quiz: The Alaska Supreme Court has ruled that an initiative to regulate or restrict pollution from mining can be placed on the ballot in August for voters to consider. ›01:16
Gorgeous grilling gear that wont break the bank: As the barbecue bonanza known as the July 4th long weekend approaches, are your tools ready to be put to the test? If not, consider updating your gear with these affordable picks from gadget guy Paul Hochman. ›16:25 1 Jul, Tue
Bubbys buttery blueberry pie with crme frache: Celebrate summer with a delicious open-faced dessert that's simple and easy to make. ›16:53 2 Jul, Wed
The center hard to reach for Obama, McCain: They're the most fickle voters, and potentially the most powerful. Thus, with party nominations secure, John McCain and Barack Obama now are pushing toward the center to win them over. ›17:50 3 Jul, Thu
Race profiling for terrorism probes?: The Justice Department is considering letting the FBI investigate Americans without any evidence of wrongdoing, relying instead on a terrorist profile that could single out Muslims, Arabs or other racial and ethnic groups. ›22:43 2 Jul, Wed
New mom Giada: Ive gained a partner in the kitchen: TODAY culinary contributor Giada De Laurentiis has her plate full this year with a new cookbook, a new show and a new addition to her family. Here, she gives the scoop on how she's juggling life with her new bundle of Jade. ›18:06 27 Jun, Fri
Slain moms kids plead for help finding killer: The man who stabbed Texas mom Tina Davila to death when she wouldnt relinquish the car containing her infant daughter is still at large, and Davilas grief-ravaged children want him caught. She was the coolest mom," her daughter Patricia said tearfully. ›03:04 2 Jul, Wed
Continental charged in Concorde crash: A French judge ordered Continental Airlines and five people to stand trial on charges of manslaughter for the 2000 crash of a Concorde jet that killed 113 people, a prosecutor said. ›18:40 3 Jul, Thu
For July 4th, wines with an independent streak: When it comes to wines, sometimes sticking to the trends can leave you in a rut. TODAY wine columnist Edward Deitch highlights a "maverick" California winemaker who is breaking new ground with his vines. ›19:57 1 Jul, Tue
Stay cool with hot summer scarves: Scarves are traditionally a winter item, but this summer, long, lightweight scarves are a must-have item. TODAY Style editor Bobbie Thomas tells you all you need to know about summer scarves.
Cosmic Log: Stars and stripes in space: Science editor Alan Boyle's Weblog: NASA's Great Observatories present a red-white-and-blue view of cosmic stars and stripes, just in time for the Fourth of July. ›19:44 3 Jul, Thu
Safe to eat? 5 summer food myths: According to the American Dietetic Association, summer is the season when food poisoning is most likely to occur. Since harmful bacteria don't take a vacation, Epicurious.com reveals the five myths about what's safe, what's not, and how to protect yourself and your meals.
Mystery cave opened at Mexican pyramid: Archaeologists are opening a cave sealed for more than 30 years deep beneath a Mexican pyramid to look for clues about the mysterious collapse of one of ancient civilization's largest cities. ›21:21 3 Jul, Thu
Utah is going to a 4-day workweek: In a yearlong experiment aimed at reducing the state's energy costs, Utah is about to become the first state to switch to a four-day workweek for thousands of government employees. ›18:26 3 Jul, Thu
Are we what we Google?: The U.S. government has done the least among the worlds eight biggest economies to address global warming, a study released Thursday found. ›14:28 3 Jul, Thu
Al's Book Club: Brendan Buckleys Universe: In Sundee Frazier's first children's book, 10-year-old Brendan Buckley is excited for summer break but his world is turned upside down when he discovers he is biracial. Read this excerpt from the first chapter of "Brendan Buckley's Universe and Everything in It." ›19:23 20 Jun, Fri
GreenDAY: America's first all-organic restaurant: Want to know exactly what you're eating, even when you dine out? The founder of Gusto Organics knows what that's like. His new restaurant made history this year as the first to be USDA-approved, 100 percent organic. ›14:53 1 Jul, Tue
Skeptics question breast cancer-free baby claim: Using genetic screening and in vitro fertilization, a British couple have conceived a daughter who will supposedly be breast cancer free. But a medical expert warns the claim is misleading: Damocles sword is still hanging over her head. ›14:42 30 Jun, Mon
