one of them was j.c. penney. pulling their ads from the show. 15 years later, ellen is now the face of j.c. penney. >> cheerio my fair lady. >> reporter: and tonight, an ad featuring two women, wendi and maggie, a real-life same-sex couple. now out in an ad in j.c. penney's may catalog. quietly, largely and without pro test advertising is starting to reflect new attitudes. >> why is that so funny? >> our cultures change and i think the broader consumer and the spending power in the country has become more progressive. >> reporter: there are gay couples on prime time television shows. >> it might be a little awkward at first. but i think after some time -- >> reporter: and now gay couples are coming out of madison avenue's closet. and more interracial couples, >> here we are because of an online dating site. >> reporter: -- reflecting the rising number of mixed race marriages in the u.s. now 7%. and in this commercial, a grandmother is the caregiver for a young child. >> thanks, grandma. >> reporter: what message

one of them was j.c. penney. pulling their ads from the show. 15 years later, ellen is now the face of j.c. penney. >> cheerio, my fair lady. >> reporter: tonight, a new clothing ad, featuring two women, wendi and maggie, a real-life same-sex couple. now out in an ad in j.c. penney's may catalog. quietly, gradually, advertising is starting to reflect new attitudes about the many definitions of the american family. >> why is that so funny? >> our cultures change and i think the broader consumer and the spending power in the country has become more progressive. >> reporter: there are gay couples on prime time television shows. >> it might be a little awkward at first. but i think after some time -- >> reporter: and now gay couples are coming out of madison avenue's closet. and more interracial couples. >> here we are because of an online dating site. >> reporter: -- reflecting the rising number of mixed race marriages in the u.s. now 7%. and in this commercial, a grandmother is the caregiver for a young child. >> t

one of them was j.c. penney. flash forward to this clothing ad featuring two women, wendi and maggie, a real-life same-sex couple. now out in an ad in j.c. penney's may catalog. quietly, largely and without pro test advertising is starting to reflect new attitudes. >> our cultures change and i think the broader consumer and the spending power in the country has become more progressive. >> reporter: there are gay couples on prime time television shows. >> it might be a little awkward at first. but i think after some time -- >> reporter: and now gay couples are coming out of madison avenue's closet. and more interracial couples, reflecting the rising number of mixed race marchriages in the u. and in this commercial, a grandmother is the caregiver for a young child. what message are they sending subliminally or overtly? >> we are you. we know your struggle. we understand what you are going through. we understand what it's like to raise a family with one person. same-sex families, interracial families, we understand

. >> loss prevention officers at j.c. penneys recognize czar keisha wilkinson and latasha mungo and called police. they had $7,000 of stolen merchandise on them when they were arrested from just one hit at the store. >> they normally hit the store three or four times a day and so far we have $20,000 worth of stolen perfumes and product. >> reporter: shoppers at woodmore dawn center are worried about the theft's impact. >> i think -- town center are worried about the theft's impact. >> i think it's horrible. we finally got some good stores in pg county and i don't have to drive all the way to virginia. >> reporter: police say the thieves also pulled off similar robberies at springfield mall and fair oaks. the women would sell the stolen goods to beauty salons in district or out of the trunk of their car. >> i like to make sure my stuff is legit and real and prefer to be able to have a professional tell me what to use, how to use it. so no, not even for a discount would i buy it out of the trunk of anybody's car. >> ultimat

. >>> j.c. penney had the biggest decline in four decades including the 1987 stock market crash. >>> elsewhere, skechers will pay $50 million to settle allegations of false advertising about toning shoes. >>> speaking of truth in advertising, one wisconsin man learned the hard way that all you can eat may be open to interpretation. the 66 frts, 350 man was kicked out of chuck's place after eating a dozen pieces of fried fish. they sent him home with another 8 pieces but he still called the cops, and insists he will picket the restaurant until they change their policy. just never enough fried fish. >>> the celts top the sixers. o's top the royles, larry byrd winning awards. a third period tip-in goal help the devils gets even. >> i believe that was 20 pieces of fried fish. the forecast is coming up, a nice, quiet one you're watching "early today." >>> good morning, if you're just waking up this is "early today." in sports last night the nba playoffs, metta world peace got pay back for the big elb

j.c. penney tumbled 12% on weak earnings report and news it's doing away with quarterly dividends. the same week facebook is going public, general motor is pulling the advertising on the social network but will keep the facebook page. >>> finally, here is some food for thought for you. before you reach for that sweet at your desk today. a new study at ucla finds eating too much sugar can eat away at your brain power. this based on effects observed on lab rats, memories. got to have a little bit. >>> spurs wear down the clippers. l.a. is king of the road and the major league soccer champs visit the white house. plus, things get heated in miami as the pacers flex their muscle. early morning sports headlines are straight ahead. >>> the middle of may is a stormy period in the middle of the country. not this year. your forecast is coming up you're watching "early today." >>> good morning if you're just waking up this is "early today." >>> in sports, last night in the nba playoffs with the miami heat down a major big man due to injury, the indiana pacers got physical. here is fred roggin

penney brands and noble 9 west and even foot locker the ball began testing that online payment system in stores back in january they start with home depot most retailers are expected to live next month. >>> he's accused of bilking bay area homeowners out of thousands of dollars on the consumer watch julie tells us a contractor is back on the bay area's most wanted list. did least his first on the state licensing boards one in 2008 and they say the serial offenders back his old tricks with $40,000 in outstanding warrants in both alameda and contra costa counties holly wilson is a one- to-one least five separate charges ranging from operating without a license to grand theft numerous consumers complain he takes illegal large down payments then bill stewart and he is not the only northern california contractor on the list if you recognize any of these men are asked to contact the police the one before hiring a contact for thousand dollars whichever is less always get three bids references and a written contract and always run their license number to the check the license first daughter,

after the close, the focus fell on j.c. penney. working to rebrand itself under ceo ron johnson who came from apple. among the projects doing away with the sales and mark downs. they delivered a loss. and the retailer eliminated the dividend. the stock was weaker heading into the night, and the shares trending lower since late last year. shares were quoted to $4 down from the closing rice in after hours action. one to watch tomorrow. speaking of retail, the unusually warm winter playing against home depot. earnings came in as expected at the retail giant, revenues were less than anticipated as home improvement sales slowed down in april. sales were up more in the u.s. khmered to growth internationally. investors focused on the revenue number pushing the dock down two percent. and didn't get help from the company raising forecasts for the rest of the year indicating confidence that the business will pick up. others moving on earnings. t.j. max raised outlook for the rest of the year. dick's sporting goods did the same. better quarte

first, j.c. penney losing a fifth of its value today after losing more money than feared in the first quarter and suspending its dividend. this is penney's lowest share price since october. teenage clothing seller abercrombie and fitch fell 13% to a new 52-week low. the company blamed europe for revenues coming in short of expectations in the first quarter and for dropping its sales outlook for the year. an in-home test for h.i.v. is one step closer to drug store shelves. a u.s. food and drug administration advisory panel okayed the test kit made by orasure. it's using a swab of your mouth, and it's already used by health care professionals. if it gets final okay, this would be the first at-home h.i.v. test. >> it's a significant opportunity both for the company as well as for public health. the opportunity for the company, obviously, is being the first test and the only test available. we can raise awareness and en current people to buy the product for that purpose that will be grit. we have our

first, j.c. penney losing a fifth of its value today after losing more money than feared in the first quarter and suspending its dividend. this is penney's lowest share price since october. teenage clothing seller abercrombie and fitch fell 13% to a new 52-week low. the company blamed europe for revenues coming in short of expectations in the first quarter and for dropping its sales outlook for the year. an in-home test for h.i.v. is one step closer to drug store shelves. a u.s. food and drug administration advisory panel okayed the test kit made by orasure. it's using a swab of your mouth, and it's already used by health care professionals. if it gets final okay, this would be the first at-home h.i.v. test. >> it's a significant opportunity both for the company as well as for public heal. the opportunitfor the company, obviously, is being the first test and the only test available. we can raise awareness and en current people to buy the product for that purpose that will be grit. we have our ope

after the close, the focus fell on j.c. penney. working to rebrand itself under ceo ron johnson who came from apple. among the projects doing away with the ses a mark downs. they delivered a loss. and the retailer eliminated the dividend. the stock was weaker heading into the night, and the shares trending lower since late last year. shares were quoted to $4 down from the closing rice in after hours action. one to watch tomorrow. speaking of retail the unusually warm winter playing against home depot. earnings came in as expected at the retail giant, revenues were less than anticipated as home improvement sales slowed down in april. sales were up more in the u.s khmered to growth internationally. investors focused on the revenue number pushing the dock down two percent. and didn't get help from the company raising forecasts for the rest of the year indicating confidence that the business will pick up. others moving on earnings. t.j. max raised outlook for the rest of the year. dick's sporting goods did the same. better quarterly re

the new pricing strategy j.c. penney was trying out is apparently now working out so well. the company reported better than expected losses in the first quarter, putting an end to wrap the discounting. in the last quarter, the department store chain lost $153 million. that compares with a profit of $64 million last year. finally tonight, it looks like google is getting smarter. after spending the past two years poring through on-line encyclopedias, the company is extending its database from 12 million items up to 500 million items. the search engine is an information warehouse. the tool is designed in a way that thinks more like a human. >> that is fascinating. as we approach preakness, some people may not be comfortable betting on horses. why not try your luck on something smaller? the frog hop leapt into action this afternoon. people jockeying their fraud these, getting into the spirit a couple of days early. the hot originated in 1967. anyone who placed first through fourth received trophies. all others were awarded ribbons. the outgoing police commissioner warned more c

they hit the same j.c. penney store for more than $20,000 worth of perfume. according to the detective who finally busted them. >> they go in and they do not hesitate. they put them in their purse and walked out. they normally hit the store three or four times a day. >> charged in this ring, the women are members of the eccheck it crew. many say they are turning their lives around by performing dance and fashion shows. >> we are trying to turn this around it a positive way. >> there is no indication that mungo or wilkinson were among those dancing on monday. according to the police, their crimes range far and wide. >> this group goes all over. they go to springfield mall. they sell them out of the trunk of their car. >> we should stress again none of the people who appeared on our story earlier this week was involved or charged with anything out here in prince george's county. this is a large group. police tell us their investigation of the thefts is ongoing. brad bell, abc 7 news. >> we are following breaking news coming in from chicago where jurors have rea

do you remember this little thing that j.c. penney launched, no more sales. we'll just go with cheap prices all of the time. how did that work out for you? apparently not so well and the company is really paying the price. we'll let you know how bad it got and what they're going to do about it in a moment. this man is about to be the millionth customer. would you mind if i go ahead of you? instead we had someone go ahead of him and win fifty thousand dollars. congratulations you are our one millionth customer. people don't like to miss out on money that should have been theirs. that's why at ally we have the raise your rate 2-year cd. you can get a one-time rate increase if our two-year rate goes up. if your bank makes you miss out, you need an ally. ally bank. no nonsense. just people sense. >>> a very expensive lesson for one of the nation's best known store chains. turns out we really, really like it when stuff goes on sale. alison kosik is at the new york stock exchange. i'm talking jc penney and a strategy that really burned them. >> somebody needs to te

now police do not believe that j.c. penney store was the only place they hit. they believe these girls were also working the springfield mall and at at fair oaks and they are working with those jurisdictions to close their open cases. back to you. >>> we are following breaking news out of month good manically county, where a fire caused delays in maryland this afternoon. a viewer shot this video as firefighters doused the flames. it happened near the intersection. traffic seems to be flowing again at this hour. >>> another big story we're following tonight. a teenager accused in a serious of vicious hammer attacks. left one man dead, has been ruled temporary incompetent. report prepared for the court of clinical psychologists is michael davis has been treated for skits skits skitsofrania. paul. >> showed no emotion as several lawyers and a judge discussed the current state of his mental health. none of them objecting when he would order in house treatment. he used a claw hammer to attack people without provocation who were walking in his neighborhood. according

j.c. penney gave way too aggressive targets and we saw the autograugliness as they gui their numbers. however, if management fails to execute we now have nelson peltz to take up the slack. there are a lot of ways you can force management to bring out value. ingersoll rand, the stock is worth less than the sum of its parts, ala berkshire hathaway, and so many others. we know when we've spoken to management at heinz that peltz's ideas are things that can change things. he's practical and offers practical advice not scorched earth. key do the same thing here. when you analyze it separately, you can add them all up. here's a model. right now ingersoll rand is a bet on nelson peltz. as long as he's network bring out value, ingersoll rand makes a lot of sense. after the break i'll try to make you more money. stay with cramer. >> coming up, fair weather friend? the clock keeps ticking down the public premier of facebook and crime certificate helping you manage the news feed and now with the socia

j.c. penney gave way too aggressive targets and we saw the ugliness tonight after they guided down their numbers. however, if management fails to execute we now have nelson peltz to take up the slack. there are a lot of ways you can force management to bring out value. ingersoll rand, the stock is worth less than the sum of its parts, a la berkshire hathaway, sara lee, rubbermaid and so many others. we know when we've spoken to management at heinz that peltz's terrific ideas are ideas that can change things. he's practical and offers practical advice, not scorched earth. do the same thing here. when you analyze it separately, you can add them all up. here's the bottom line. right now a bet on ingersoll rand is a bet on nelson peltz. as long as he's working to bring out value, ingersoll rand makes a lot of sense when the cloud lifts on the industrial sector. after the break i'll try to make you more money. stay with cramer. >> coming up, fair weather friend? the clock keeps ticking down to

j.c. penney, one of america's largest retailers, joseph abboud, a clothing company partnered with iran and iraq to launch the welcome hoe joe, thanks a mill program, to prepare -- that thinks a million program. this program provides 5,000 veterans with certificates to purchase business attire. for the last decade we've expected our brave men and women in uniform to prepare for the battlefield. in the process they have become accustomed to wearing combat boots and battle-dress uniforms. now they're expected to wear a suit and tie for job interviews, something that sometimes seems pretty foreign to them. but thanks to this program, thousands of transitioning veterans can now hang up their battle-dress uniforms and dress for their next challenge. other companies like schneider national, one of america's largest trunking companies are realizing the veterans gained over the last decade of work are directly applicable to their business. schneider national recognizes that a veteran who has driven