• Sailors missing

    It's hard to quantify progress in Afghanistan, but all too easy to measure the cost in lives. This is already on track to be the deadliest year for American troops, and now a desperate search is underway for two U.S. sailors who have gone missing and may have been captured. The Taliban are making some claims about their status, but the military isn't confirming them. Meantime, on a visit to Afghanistan today, Admiral Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, warned the U.S. will continue to suffer casualties and face tough resistance, but that "slow and steady" progress is being made, and that he still thinks the momentum of the insurgency can be reversed. NBC News Pentagon Correspondent Jim Miklaszewski will join me tonight to tell us more about the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of the servicemen and this latest juncture in the 9-year-long war.

    There is also news tonight about Tony Hayward, the embattled BP CEO who once famously uttered the words "I'd like my life back" as oil poured into the Gulf. Well, now it appears that story may have come full circle. We'll report that tonight, as well as what's going on back at the oil well site now that the storm threat has passed.

    Many of us are crying "uncle" when it comes to this heat wave, so we'll look at the national forecast on tonight's broadcast, as well as how this weather has put a number of Americans in danger.

    I hope you can join us for NBC Nightly News.

  • Chocolate dipped with sprinkles

    Lester Holt

    NBC News' Clare Kim and Anne Wallace enjoy their ice cream (and the air conditioning) on an sweltering day in New York.

    With the heat index in Manhattan at 100 degrees, I declared an ice cream break this afternoon. A group of us bugged out of the newsroom a little while ago to hit the Mister Softee truck at the corner of 49th Street and 6th Avenue. It not only satisfied our collective craving for something cool, but hopefully also provided a shot to the local economy.

    There was an item in the New York Times reporting that sales of Mister Softee ice cream are actually down this summer. In case you're not familiar with them, Mister Softee trucks are a ubiquitous part of the Manhattan landscape, and operate primarily in the Northeast. However the prolonged heat wave may have gotten the best of them this year. According to the man who manages Mister Softee distribution, it's been too hot this summer for New Yorkers to venture out. Can you believe it, too hot for ice cream? He speculates folks are either holed-up in their air conditioned homes or at the pool. Apparently other ice cream companies are also reporting a slump in sales. On behalf of the Weekend Nightly News staff let me simply say we stand ready to do our part to help the ice cream industry stay afloat (did somebody say ice cream float?).

    The weather, on several fronts is our big story today. First, former Tropical Storm Bonnie has weakened, allowing containment vessels and personnel to start returning to the oil operation in the Gulf. The storm may have fizzled but it still cost them valuable time in their efforts to "kill" the well. Then there is the oppressive heat gripping not just the Northeast, but parts of the South and Midwest. On top of that the Midwest has been clobbered by violent storms that dumped more than seven inches of rain in the Chicago area and triggered severe flooding.

    We've also got a update to a story we first reported here last Saturday about the surge in pets being turned into Louisiana animal shelters by owners who have landed on hard times because of the oil disaster. I think you'll like how this is turning out.

    I hope where ever you are you are staying cool today. Thanks for checking in and we'll see you tonight on NBC Nightly News.

  • Heating up

    If you're suffering in the heat today here's an interesting fact you can use when someone asks "is it hot enough for you?" According to the National Climatic Data Center, the period from January to June was the warmest six months on the planet since records were first kept. This current heat wave blankets a big part of the country this weekend. Here in the east it's that wicked combo of heat and humidity, while the west is baking in a virtual dry oven with temperatures in some spots reaching into the triple digits. I found myself fantasizing about winter today, which is a sure sign the heat is getting to me (in January I'll be blogging about the joys of July). We'll have more on the heat on tonight's broadcast.

    We're of course also keeping tabs on the undersea drama in the Gulf of Mexico. A lot of eyes are keeping watch on that new containment cap over the ruptured well, and so far all the readings look good -- meaning no signs of leaks. We'll update the operation and look ahead at the next major challenges in this disaster.

    Remember all those pets that needed homes after Hurricane Katrina? The oil crisis threatens to create a similar predicament for those suffering economic hardships in the Gulf and our Michelle Kosinski will share some of those heart breaking stories on tonight's program.

    Thanks for checking in. We'll look for you tonight on NBC Nightly News.

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