By Peter Alexander, NBC News correspondent

When it comes to getting his ambitious $3.5 trillion budget passed through Congress, President Obama is hoping for better success than his hometown basketball team, the Chicago Bulls, had on the court last evening. The president spent his Friday night out, witnessing the Bulls get beaten by the Washington Wizards. Our White House correspondent John Yang will be on the broadcast tonight to tell us about how the president is preparing for battle with powerful lobbyists and special interest groups. We'll also bring in CNBC's Scott Wapner to address the growing economic crisis.

By Brian Williams, Anchor and managing editor

To understand what's happening to the newspaper business in this country, and what happens when a community newspaper dies (if you care), please watch this video. The opinion piece of the day on Twitter is here, and if you want to feel better about the triangles and sailboats on your legal pad, here's your justification.

I ask only that you have a good weekend, and please join us tonight and again on Monday.

By Robert Bazell, NBC News chief science correspondent

There is an old saying in the news business that you can't go wrong with stories about adorable children and dogs. So a report that has both is a sure fire winner. That may not always be the case but I find tonight's story especially fascinating.
 
Riley Mers is an eight year old in Monument, Colorado who has such a severe peanut allergy that a slight whiff can actually threaten her life. Her mother Sherry was watching a television program about how bomb sniffing dogs had been trained to look for illegal fruits and vegetables at customs crossings, so she thought: Why not a peanut sniffing dog to check out rooms before Riley enters them to be sure she is safe?
 
Mom started asking around in the area about someone who might train a dog. A dog breeder gave her a Portuguese Water Dog whom Riley named Rock'O and directed her to a Bill Whitstine who trains dogs to detect explosives at the Florida Canine Academy. There have been reports of other dogs trained to sniff out peanuts but Whitstine had never done it and took it on a challenge. He donated his time in training the dog that would usually cost $15,000. He said it was surprisingly easy to train a dog for peanut detection.
 
Sherry Mers and Whitstine now have started a foundation to raise money to train other dogs for several allergic children (http://www.angelservicedogs.com/)
 
It has been rumored that Portuguese Water Dogs are among the breeds being considered for the First Puppy for the Obama kids. Indeed one of their attractions for working with allergic children is that they tend to trigger allergies less frequently than other breeds.
 
Also the dog purists among you way say that Rock'O is not really a Portuguese Water Dog. But I am assured he is. He does not have the perfect appearance required for a show dog. Nor is he groomed as such a dog traditionally would be for shows. But he is to Riley as she puts it "my very bestest friend in the world."

 By Brian Williams, Anchor and managing editor

I want to direct your attention to the last segment in tonight's broadcast. In its simplest terms, it's a story about a wall, in a school building in Washington, DC. But it's much more than that--it's about children, about education, and the so-far incalculable effect the election of a new President has had among some. It's an interesting item -- I hope it's a story well-told, and we'd like you to pay special attention to the very end of our broadcast (for that matter--to ALL of the broadcast) tonight. We hope you can join us.

By Jack Chesnutt, Producer, NBC News

(Tucson, AZ) After millions of words are written, hours of analysis by golf commentators, and a few suggestions from their caddies, there is one last voice pro golfers Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, and Ernie Els hear before hitting the shot that could lead to a one point four million dollar purse: Dick Fitzgerald. Dick who? That's Dick Fitzgerald, the 59-year old Tucson real estate broker, amateur golfer, and starting tee announcer. As Tiger waits to tee off, golf announcers fall silent, and there is Dick's voice. No microphone, no amplifier, please.

"From the United States, Tiger Woods!" The crowd goes wild. Fitzgerald knows it's not for him, but that's okay. Only a few seconds later, Tiger hammers another picture-perfect drive down the fairway. Fitzgerald is within 10 feet of his backswing.

"Proximity, that's what is so cool. It's great to really see these guys up close." Anfod, he is close. He shakes hands with all the players and most of the caddies. He can hear the whispered questions and conversation between golfer and caddie. And, he has had the best seat in the house at the Accenture Match Play Championship for the last 10 years to take note of who is edgy, "most come to the tee with nerves, butterflies, some even pace." And, who is in their own world. "Tiger. He has such focus!"

"I've been introduced to Tiger a couple of times," says Fitzgerald in a quiet moment on the first tee, "But when he walks out here, he doesn't interact. It's as if he doesn't hear anything. I had to tell him something about the course a few years ago. He didn't look at me. Tiger is so focused, he will look right through you."

And, after his introductions, Fitzgerald knows to let the players have those few precious seconds to concentrate on the shot, "I don't talk."

At 9:20 am mountain standard time, Fitzgerald is preparing for the first group of the day to tee off. He consults with a pair of young observers - guests of the PGA tour or the sponsors who are allowed to walk with the players. It's a great gig if you have the connections, and they get their names announced by Dick Fitzgerald. But, the trickiest part of the job is getting the pronunciation correct for all the names.

"We have had some first time foreign players out here who do not speak English. So, I sometimes ask the caddies how to pronounce the names, which is fine, unless the caddies have trouble with English, too!" The court of last resort for questionable pronunciations is the PGA tour.

On this day, Fitzgerald is on the first tee from 9am to 1pm. It's a bit shorter work day than Wednesday, when groups were teeing off from 7:30a to 12:30pm. And, no, he does not take a restroom break as long as players are teeing off. "I take care of that afterward, there is a lot to be done between groups teeing off and I just couldn't leave the tee area while players are still starting!"

The starting tee announcer at the British Open, Ivor Robson, has achieved some fame for his distinctive voice but more renown for refraining from taking a restroom break through an entire day at the first tee. He was even the subject of a part of a golf documentary on the Open Championship. He gave long and detailed answers on how he controlled his fluid intake, 'no coffee or tea!"

Fitzgerald pauses when I ask about his control technique, and an official standing nearby chimed in with the answer, "he doesn't drink! Anything.. At least during the day!" That drew a chuckle from Fitzgerald. "Let's just say I have my system." He not eager to discuss bodily functions. Television coverage of golf tournaments is saturated with commercials for bladder control medications, but I resist the temptation to ask Fitzgerald if he's getting any help from drugs. I'm not even sure I should have written that, but hey.. Inquiring minds want to know!

As Phil Mickelson briefly chats with former Master's champion Zach Johnson, Mickelson's caddy asks Fitzgerald the time and how long before the official start. Mickelson is into his own countdown, "Phil wants to know one minute out," says Fitzgerald. Mickelson paces a bit and looks down the fairway, and says "I think a three-wood." - selecting his first club. At the stroke of 9:30, Fitzgerald speaks in a loud clear voice, "From the United States, Phil Mickelson!" The crowd erupts. "And, from the United States, Zach Johnson." More applause, but a bit less than Mickelson, who lived for years in Arizona - he's considered a bit of a home-state favorite.

In a few seconds, it's amazingly quiet. About 500 people in grandstands and crowded around the first tee are totally silent. You can clearly hear the 'whoosh' of Mickelson's practice swing. The words of the announcer are long gone. The focus is on the ball. The sun is getting up in the sky. It will be 90 degrees today. Fitzgerald is wearing a jaunty cap, black slacks, a white shirt and red tie with a black sweater vest. You can't help but think this must be one of the hottest jobs in Tucson today. But, Fitzgerald is wearing sunscreen "SPF 45, applied 4 or five times a day." And the job is cool, "You get to see the best golfers in the world up close … really close."

Mickelson rips a great drive down the middle of what looks like a very narrow fairway. Huge cheers. Johnson does the same and they are gone. In about 5 hours, Fitzgerald can step into the shade, take off the sweater, wash the dust and sunscreen from his eyes… And, yes, find that critical desert oasis: a restroom.

 By Brian Williams, Anchor and managing editor

Back in New York thanks to my friends at Amtrak. The blogs and morning papers chose some interesting follow-up topics, including the First Lady going sleeveless last night, showing off what the Washington Post's billiant Robin Givhan has called her "post-Title IX Arms."

Here's the New York Times Caucus blog.There's also Mark Halperin's list of 15 items about Obama and Dana Milbank on Twitter. The other piece of required reading this week is the New Yorker profile of Rahm Emanuel.

We hope you can join us for tonight's broadcast.

 By Brian Williams, Anchor and managing editor

 I was seated next to the President for lunch today -- the annual background session for television journalists (just as there are frequent sessions for print journalists, members of Congress and business executives) prior to his speech tonight.

It was a wide-ranging discussion (the ground rules prohibit us from quoting the President directly) that included movies ("Slumdog" reminded him of growing up in Jakarta, he saw "Gran Torino" last night and loved it) and his own life and security (he was horrified to learn that everyone who attended his daughter's basketball game this past weekend was searched prior to his arrival) and the business at hand.

On the economy, the President previewed his speech tonight -- in which he will try to explain to Americans what we're going through, while noting the anger, fear and frustration out there. He's going to call on the American spirit and express his optimism that we'll get through this, all the better for it.

He indicated the last month has flown by him, but repeated what he's said before: he loves the work of the Presidency.

These sessions are always interesting and always useful...and it's fascinating to see the differences in personality and operating style between these last two Presidents. The tone in the West Wing and the Residence is decidedly different, in a way that defies an easy description or definition.

Tonight we all get to hear what he proposes...for what ails us. We will have live coverage of the speech tonight...and well before that, we hope you can join us for tonight's broadcast.

By Mark Potter, NBC News Correspondent

NOGALES, MEXICO -- When considering the vicious drug war being waged in Mexico,  it's instructive--and a bit disconcerting--to head south to look at it from Mexico's point of view.

While U.S. citizens are rightfully worried about the violence and the tons of cocaine, marijuana, methamphetamine and heroin crossing the Mexican border into the United States, Mexican officials have their own complaints about the threats they face from their neighbor north of the border.

Mexican officials point out that almost all the financing for the murderous Mexican drug cartels--billions of dollars a year--comes from U.S. drug users.
They also note, and U.S. officials confirm this, that 90 to 95 percent of all the traffickers' high-powered weapons are purchased at gun shows, gun shops and from independent dealers in the United States and are then smuggled into Mexico.

                         
                          Weapons seized by Mexican officials. CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO

Because Mexican gun laws are so restrictive and very few Mexican citizens are allowed to own or sell guns, the traffickers purchase most of their weapons in the U.S. where the laws are more lenient and federal firearms agents are stretched woefully thin.  (Several sources have said that along the entire 2,000 mile U.S.-Mexican border, there are fewer than 100 federal firearms agents currently working weapons smuggling cases.)

On too many occasions, Mexican police have been simply out-gunned and overrun by the well-armed drug gangs. Just last week, the police chief in Juarez, Mexico, resigned after the drug traffickers began to make good on their threat to methodically kill his officers one by one if he didn't quit.

Federal, state and local public officials, as well as soldiers and journalists, are also targeted by the traffickers as they fight to defend and spread their narcotics operations. Innocent bystanders are often caught in the crossfire. 

Mexican President Felipe Calderon and other officials have been begging the United States to tackle the drug abuse problem more effectively and to do a whole lot more to slow the illicit weapons trade. In a moment of frustration, the Mexican Attorney General told me once that too often the United States appears to be fighting the drug war on the wrong side--by financing and arming the traffickers.

No one suggests Mexico is devoid of responsibility on this issue.  The poverty, widespread corruption and failures of its justice system all enable to traffickers to operate with impunity in too many areas.  But, under the current presidential administration in Mexico, the government is fighting back and has sent more than 45,000 troops to confront the drug cartels.

                          
                          A Mexican police officer stands guard during a prison 
                          transfer of drug traffickers.

In the United States, an increasing number of officials are realizing the Mexican drug war is also a serious U.S. problem.  Among other things, there is proposed legislation now to hire more firearms agents to stem to southbound weapons flood. Washington is also helping to train and finance Mexican authorities through its Merida initiative, although the amount of that aid clearly pales in comparison to the money and arms the traffickers collect from the U.S.

Watch Mark Potter's related video report that aired Wednesday on NBC Nightly News. Click here for related previous reports.

 

By Robert Bazell, NBC News Chief science correspondent

Tonight we report on a big advance in flu research.  Like so many other stories on science this does not mean much of anything will happen in the next few months.  In this case some reassuring change should come in as soon as three years.  And. it could bring a much bigger achievement several more years down the line to end much of the danger from seasonal flu and the threat of massive death from a pandemic of bird flu.

 

 By Brian Williams, Anchor and managing editor

Not that the Academy asked me, but if requested to submit my findings following last night's broadcast (somebody check...is it still going on?), they would be the following...
 

MEMO TO:

The Academy -- you must let Steve Martin and Tina Fey host next year. They are the Mike Nichols and Elaine May of a new generation.

Joaquin Phoenix -- you deserved it

Ben Stiller -- you killed

True North, Coke, Amex and Hyundai -- nice ad campaigns

The Academy -- while the morning-after consensus seems to be that there were about three too many musical numbers, we liked the "panel" concept of past winners announcing the nominees. By making sure each received a tribute, it took the sting out of losing (and we didn't have to see that awful Brady Bunch box on the screen, looking always for bitter reaction shots). It was a nice, personal touch with very few clunky mis-matches. I think there were enough cutaway shots of a serene-looking Angelina Jolie.

The Academy -- When you remember the giants who passed away during the last year, please let us watch it on TV. Don't zoom in and out with a steadicam and a jib camera to a confusing array of TV screens showing the same image. Just take it full, as we say. And further: when a giant like Paul Newman passes from our lives, he deserves more than what he got last night. He was an icon. He should have been treated that way.

The cast and crew of Slumdog -- how can we not be happy for you? Congratulations.

Back to what's important for us: tonight we begin a series of segments that we're proud of on the economy. Close readers of this space may remember me saying a few days back that I wanted all those charged with fixing the U.S. auto industry to own American cars. Guess what? They don't, according to the Detroit News.  And Senator Jim Bunning said an awful thing about Justice Ginsburg and when he went to apologize, he spelled her name wrong . We hope you can join us for our Monday night broadcast.

by Lester Holt, NBC News anchor

"The only easy day was yesterday." That's what instructors regularly remind Navy SEAL recruits at the service's infamous and grueling Coronado, California training school. At this point in his presidency I wonder if President Obama is ready to adopt the slogan as his own.  With the wheels falling off the economy at every turn, each day is a new battle in a war with many fronts. He won the skirmish over that economic stimulus plan, and now he heads into this week unveiling a federal budget that projects the government's deficit climbing well over a trillion dollars. Our White House correspondent Chuck Todd will be on the broadcast tonight to tell us about the president's rough week ahead as he potentially steps out on a limb with a pledge to half that deficit by the end of his first term.

By Peter Alexander, NBC News correspondent

From rising unemployment, to the growing housing crisis, we all know the problems. But, what are the answers? This week, I traveled to Charlotte, North Carolina to visit one organization seeking solutions. The Charlotte Professionals is a job search support group where accountants, sales managers and IT executives gather for breakfast every other week, sharing coffee and professional contacts.

Formed eight years ago, the self-help group's ranks have grown from a trickle to a flood. Fifty-five out-of-work professionals showed up this week – the largest crowd yet. It has grown into an effective outlet for the unemployed to network, get advice, and find motivation. In Charlotte alone, the number of job search support groups has nearly tripled since the end of 2008.

by Lester Holt, NBC News anchor

Those of us who were toiling in the trenches of cable news will remember the summer of 2001 for shark attacks and the disappearance of Chandra Levy. The two stories dominated the headlines for those months. The unexplained rash of shark attacks played to a basic human fear. The disappearance of Levy, a 24-year-old former Washington intern, who had been in a relationship with a married U.S. congressman, raised an already disturbing mystery to the level of political intrigue and scandal.

By Brian Williams, Anchor and managing editor

I will end the week with the writing of others: specifically a piece for those who still believe in the American spirit and possibility and optimism.  For my fellow American car lovers out there let's dedicate this one to my indellible memory of the day our new mint green 1967 Pontiac Catalina arrived in our driveway -- the first new car my father was ever willing to buy, or could afford. In my view, if we're resolved to save the American car business, I only hope that the people who are working on the problem in Washington are among those who own and love American cars. I say that because a couple of them look like 1987 Volvo wagon types to me.

I hope you have a good weekend. We hope you can join us for tonight's broadcast.

By Janet Shamlian, NBC News correspondent

If you live in Houston and have children, you just like knowing it's THERE. One of the nation's best pediatric hospitals calls this city home. As a mom of five, I've logged a few hours at Texas Children's Hospital as doctors stitched and bandaged the inevitable badges of childhood. That was in the emergency room and worlds away from the ninth floor where every parent prays they'll never become a 'regular.'

It's brightly lit and filled with toys, but make no mistake, the ninth floor of Texas Children's means your baby is in the fight or his or her life. Every child, from toddlers to teens, is battling cancer and has come to nine for a dose of hope -- chemotherapy. There are a dozen or more infusion rooms but sometimes they're all in use and soon the waiting area is full of bald heads and heavy hearts.

And yet if it's possible to see a rainbow inside, there's a vivid one on the ninth floor. It's coming from a small room down near the elevators. If you follow it, you'll find a true Texas treasure; a woman who's the subject of our Making A Difference report tonight.

She's not a doctor or a nurse -- but she is healing kids like leukemia patient Mary Jo Stavinoha with a different type of tonic. And it's happening one song at a time.

NBC's Janet Shamlian and leukemia patient Mary Jo Stavinoha

More information on the program highlighted in Janet's report.

When Brian Williams filled in for Meredith Vieira this morning, Al Roker suggested a new theme song for the dynamic duo of Williams and Lauer..."It's Raining Men."  Added Roker: "It's a Whitman's sampler of man candy right there."

Here are some lighter moments from this morning's show:

By Brian Williams, Anchor and managing editor

The Globe and Mail in Canada has been live blogging the president's visit this afternoon -- and at one point reported, as did the CBC on television, that they had seen "Barack Obama's double...a mannequin version of the President, riding in the back..." of the second of the two limousines, often called the "decoy" limousine. As the Globe and Mail put it, "the dummy is obviously an effort by the president's security detail to throw off those who might try and do him harm." But reporter Bill Curry went on to point out, "the fake Obama appeared to be lying back catching a snooze. Surely those posing the mannequin would know a President shouldn't be caught sleeping during his first trip abroad?"

So I did some checking. A source connected to the U.S. Secret Service has put the matter to rest, so to speak...and they blame the confusion on the speed and excitement of the motorcade and the thick green-tinted bullet-proof glass in the new limousines. "It's (personal aide to the president) Reggie Love," says the source...who went on to note Reggie works close to 24-hours a day, and might have seen the ride in the second limo as his only opportunity during a long travel day...to relax for just a moment. It all makes sense -- staff members ride with the president on trips where the seats aren't taken by dignitaries (or when the president just wishes to be alone). The only part of it that doesn't make sense? I've never seen Reggie NOT working. I'm willing to bet a substantial sum that he was using both his phone and laptop...and maybe his blackberry.

Glad that's settled. We hope you can join us for tonight's broadcast.

by Ann Curry, NBC News

CHAD/DARFUR BORDER -- We traveled to the Chad/Darfur border with New York Times columnist Nick Kristof and actor/activist George Clooney, two men you might not guess have much in common, but both are smart and funny -- and care deeply about Darfur.

Today in a refugee camp on the Chad side, we found in one refugee camp, a school house named for the President Obama.  

School house named after President Obama | Photo by: Ann Curry/NBC News

The students told us Obama made them believe anything was possible, that they could rise from the sands of this desert, where they don't even have shoes, and become anyone they wanted, maybe even a president. That these children, who are among humankind's most suffering living in one of the world's most hopeless places, could imagine such greatness... now that is the audacity of hope.

Taken from inside a refugee camp building, while listening to the Darfurian tribal shieks tell us they want Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir punished by the International Criminal Court. Outside, the children are listening.  The littlest Darfurians are full of joy. Most can't even remember any life but this, in a dusty refugee camp with not enough food to go around. To them, this is normal. | Photo: Ann Curry/NBC News

Watching them, George worries aloud that they might live the rest of their lives as refugees.

Even if the International Criminal Court issues an arrest warrant for Sudan's President Omar al Bashir for crimes against humanity in Darfur, he would likely only be arrested if he leaves his country.  And even if he is ousted, would it be safe for the refugees to return, given that many people in Sudan were to complicit in carrying out the atrocities? 

Nick, who has reported on this human tragedy more than any other American journalist has a hard time understanding why it has taken so long to help  these survivors.  The atrocities started six years ago.

The refugees have waited and waited and waited for a chance to finally go home and live in peace.

They want justice and peace, but mostly they want to just be back in the embrace of their old lives, the sorgum growing, the children playing, the thatched roofs sheltering their familes from the bright sun.

We go inside the Obama school house, and there, George asks the children to wave at the camera, and say hello to President Obama.  They joyfully comply for longer than we expected.

 

The Darfurian children have no idea Clooney is a movie star, all they know is he's fun and that he's trying to help them. | Photo: Ann Curry/NBC News

George Clooney is actually buried underneath the giggling children who are looking at the photos he has taken of them. | Photo: Ann Curry / NBC News

Afterwards George tells me he knows that was manipulative, but that Obama and the rest of the world's leaders are important to what happens next.

What will they do if for the first time, the ICC issues an arrest warrant for a sitting president? Morally, can the world allow these survivors to linger and die in refugee camps?

See Ann's reporting on Nightly News here. Watch TODAY and Nightly for more for her reporting from the region. Follow Ann's reporting on humanitarian issues on AnnCurry.msnbc.com. Click here to get her updates on Twitter.

By Brian Williams, Anchor and managing editor

There's no sense in me even trying to write something remotely interesting today -- because of all the interesting writing I've encountered out there. While I cruise around the papers and the internet each day, I have help in my pursuit of information: the astoundingly smart and capable Megan Marcus of our staff, who tries to find the nuggets of information no one else sees, in hopes that they will make the threshold of the broadcast each night. Those that don't -- are always interesting. For example: this account of what its like to fly with the Obama family on board Air Force One. Or this traveler's advisory if you know anyone traveling through Tulsa. Or this, from my favorite voice on the subject of airline security, Jeffrey Goldberg (warning, this gets a bit graphic) of the newly-aggressive Atlantic.  On the subject of the new President and the military: an interesting essay on our returning war dead and a must-read on the President's letters to the families.  I'll let all of that suffice for today. We all hope you can join us tonight.

 

 

In this photo, we are inside a refugee camp building, listening to the Darfurian tribal shieks tell us they want Sudan's president Omar al-Bashir punished by the International Criminal Court. Outside, the children are at the windows listening, helpless to guide their futures in this place that does not offer much one.

Darfur refugees in a classroom named Obama.

The littlest darfurians are full of joy. Most can't even remember any life but this, in a dusty refugee camp with not enough food to go around. To them, this is normal.

 

Ann Curry is in Chad, covering a pivotal moment in the Darfur crisis: the International Criminal Court's upcoming decision whether to issue an arrest warrant for the Sudanese president. See her video from the TODAY Show here. She's also scheduled to report from the region on Nightly News tonight.

Ann Curry has been using Twitter during her trip. Here are some of her entries, including this moving photo:

--In one refugee camp, a boy sits down before me, his eyes full of suffering. Around his neck, the amulets that are supposed to protect him.  (about 10 hours ago)

--Found Aziza and Khamus, Darfurian refugees who we profiled for Nightly two years ago. They are still waiting for justice and peace. (about 5 hours ago)

Click here to follow her on Twitter.  See more of Ann's reporting on humanitarian issues on AnnCurry.msnbc.com and right here on Daily Nightly.

 By Brian Williams, Anchor and Managing Editor

It's time to think of who you would nominate as the best person you know. For this post today, I'm wearing my hat as a board member of the Medal of Honor Foundation, which serves the 98 living Medal of Honor recipients, the values they stand for, and the memory of those who have gone before them.

Please follow this link to the Above & Beyond Citizen Honors. We are taking nominations until the end of this week. Sully is a great example -- he's already been nominated by several folks, as is a guy who is a hero to many of us: Rick Rescorla.  Rick was the iconic infantryman pictured on the cover of "We  Were Soldiers Once, And Young." Rick was an extraordinary figure...who (after surviving the combat of the Ia Drang Valley in Vietnam) was killed on 9-11 after leading his fellow Morgan Stanley employees to safety.  Please give it some thought and offer a nomination. 

It is typical of the Medal Of Honor Recipients (the men who've earned their nation's highest military honor) to want to use their good name to honor others. Let's help them do it.

We hope you can join us tonight.