dangerous animals like lions and tigers roaming wild. they had to be stopped by police with guns. tonight, the families who were terrorized and what the animals were doing there. tension convention. last night in las vegas, as romney and perry went after each other and it got personal and physical. a secret weapon for president obama tonight. why his wife, the first lady, is suddenly everywhere. and to die for. a restaurant where the house special is an 8,000-calorie burger. at that point, why not have fries with that? at that point, why not have fries with that? "nightly news" begins now. captions paid for by nbc-universal television good evening. we begin tonight with a strange and sad story out of zanesville, ohio. it started with a local man known as something of an eccentric and a criminal who had served time in prison.

he kept a wild animal preserve on his property. big exotic animals, the kind we see in zoos, until last night when he released the animals and took his own life. police responding in the dark to protect the families in the area had no choice but to draw their weapons and bring down the animals. those still on the loose today were tranquilized, taken away. the 48 dead animals include 18 endangered bengal tigers and there are only about 2,500 in the world. tonight in zanesville, it's mostly the scene of a terrible waste and a rekindled debate over private rights versus animal welfare. we have two reports tonight beginning at the scene with nbc's john yang. good evening. >> reporter: good evening, brian. it was a tense and terrifying night. 50 exotic animals roaming the hillsides. not only 18 bengal tigers, but 17 lions. the sheriff said they were big, mature and aggressive. sheriff's deputies pursued them

with assault weapons. their orders were simple -- shoot to kill. by the time the sun came up in zanesville, most of the animals that had escaped from terry thompson's farm were gone. >> one wolf, six black bears, two grizzly bears, nine male lions, eight lionesses, one baboon, three mountain lions and 18 tigers. >> reporter: it had been a nerve wracking night as local news broadcasts warned residents. >> stay inside. there might be a lion, tiger or grizzly roaming in your neighborhood. >> reporter: thompson, the owner of a 73-acre exotic animal farm had apparently set most of his animals free and then took his own life. fred polk, one of thompson's neighbors, saw many of the animals on his property. >> i seen mountain lions and african lions. i think three bears. one of the bears charged a deputy and the deputy shot it. >> we don't go to the academy and get trained on how to deal with 300-pound bengal tigers. >> reporter: danielle white and

her two children live next door. for them it was a terrifying night. >> the gunfire was very close to the house. i almost felt at one point that it may have been right in the backyard. >> that is a bear. >> reporter: today, schools were closed as a precaution amid new questions about the animal's owner. neighbors and other area residents called thompson eccentric. last month he was released after more than a year in federal prison on gun charges. six of his animals, including three leopards, have been safely taken to the columbus zoo. scores of others had to be killed to protect the community. >> tragedy for the animal world is what it is. it could have been a bigger tragedy for the human world. that's what we tried to avoid here. >> reporter: tonight most of the exotic animals have been returned to thompson's property and buried there. john yang, nbc news, ohio. >> this is stephanie gosk. an animal control officer shot a monkey on the loose last week in

st. cloud, florida. this mountain lion attacked and mauled a 4-year-old in texas earlier this month. both cases of exotic pets on the loose. >> in the united states today, there are thousands of people who keep exotic animals as pets. globally, the market trade of creatures is a $20 billion a year industry. >> reporter: buying an exotic animal can be as easy as a click of the mouse. one site has up to 600 for sale, but state laws vary widely on regulating who can own what depending on where they live. according to the humane society of the u.s., 12 states ban the private possession of exotic animals. 28 states have restrictions and 12 statehave almost none. ohio is one of those states. >> you've got to be nuts to want to keep one of these. >> reporter: a new documentary highlights the sometimes murky business of exotic animal sales. >> i went to exotic animal auctions and i had to go undercover. i had to go with body guards, too.

they didn't allow cameras. >> reporter: scoot -- scott shoemaker in nevada, is raising 30 animals including six tigers and a 550-pound african lion. he spent more than $100,000 in caging and nine-feet wire fencing for his property. >> some guy lets his out. it's obviously not a caging issue, not a safety issue. the guy obviously had a mental issue. why would i get lumped in with him? we have taken precautions here in being responsible. >> reporter: tonight the pressure is on ohio governor john kasich to change the law. his office has been re-evaluating a proposed ban on exotic pets, brian, that would have prevented today's incident. >> stephanie gosk and john yang starting us off tonight from zanesville. thanks to you both. now we turn to politics. about last night. as we said it was a tension convention in las vegas. a lively debate where the leaders tore into each other and some are calling it a turning point in the gop race for the personal turn it took.

our political director, chief white house correspondent chuck todd is in our d.c. newsroom tonight. chuck, good evening. >> reporter: good evening, brian. everybody knew at some point rick perry would have no choice than to jump start his campaign by attacking mitt romney. he did and so did other the result, a debate with romney

i'm looking forward to finding your facts on that. >> i'll tell you what the facts are -- >> rick, again, i'm speaking. >> you had the -- the newspaper. >> reporter: romney took a personal shot using a tone that the new york times television critic today likened to a member of a country club talking down to an unsophisticated nonmember. >> this has been a tough couple of debates for rick and i understand that. so you're going to get testy. [ cheers and applause ] >> i'll tell you what. let me take my time and then you can take your time. >> have at it. >> we hired a lawn company to mow our lawn and they had illegal immigrants working there. when that was pointed out to us, we let them go and we said -- >> a year later? >> you have a problem with allowing someone to finish speaking. i would suggest if you want to become president of the united states you have to let people speak. so, first, let me speak. [ cheers and applause ] >> reporter: romney seemed peeved by the shots other candidates took at his massachusetts health care record. >> you don't have credibility

when it comes to repealing obamacare. your plan was the basis for obamacare. >> this was something crafted for massachusetts. it would be wrong to adopt it as a nation. >> that's not what you said. >> you're shaking your head. >> that's not what you said. >> governor -- >> i tell you what, let me speak. >> you're allowed to change -- you can't change the facts. >> you had your chance. rick, you had your chance. let me speak. >> reporter: even newt gingrich who tried to play mediator at the debates found himself on the business end of a romney lecture. >> your plan is essentially one more big government bureaucratic. >> actually, newt, we got the idea of an individual mandate from you. >> that's not true. that was the heritage foundation. >> have you supported an individual mandate? >> i absolutely did, with the heritage foundation, against hillary care. >> you did? >> yes, sir. >> that's what i'm saying. we got the idea from you and the heritage foundation. >> reporter: one candidate who didn't pick a fight with romney is herman cain who leads in the national poll and new surveys in south carolina and florida. cain's surge of support in both important primary states is

thanks to two groups yet to warm up to romney -- tea party conservatives and evangelical christians, brian. >> all of it still on the move. chuck todd in our d.c. newsroom. chuck, thanks. we learned today that senior citizens in this country after two years with no cost of living adjustment will see a 3.6% increase in social security payments next year. average increase of $39 a month works out to an extra $467 for the year. unfortunately, some of that increase will end up going toward higher premiums for medicare that will be announced next week. overseas now, we turn to greece where this was a day of rage in that country over what's happening to that country and to everyday citizens who say they are being forced to shoulder the burden of a downward spiralling economy. more than 100,000 people took to the streets today in athens in a nationwide strike that has virtually shut the country down. michelle caruso-cabrera is there for cnbc tonight.

michelle, good evening. >> reporter: good evening, brian. they took to the streets one day ahead of a crucial vote that they have to pass on austerity measures in order to get a loan to keep the economy on life support. those affected are angry and they showed it today. athens looked like a war zone. protesters by the thousands throwing stones and fire bombs at police. police responding with teargas and muscle. at times it was hand to hand combat. a home made bomb aimed at police hit a protester instead. greece is having a nervous break down. the country is at a standstill on strike and out of money after years of living beyond its means. with angry crowds outside, parliament is racing to balance the budget, facing an ultimatum from europe. get your house in order or go under.

prime minister george papandreou pleaded for support, understanding and responsibility. the proposed austerity measures, spending cuts, tax hikes, lay-offs and suspension of collective bargaining are painful and deeply unpopular. >> this is really bad. this is really difficult for a young person to not have dreams. >> there is no future here. >> reporter: greece owes half a trillion to lenders and they can't pay it. a default could cripple the economy of europe and beyond. in fact, tonight the leader of france flew to germany to meet with the head of the country to see if they can come up with european-wide solutions to the financial crisis here. the european economy is bigger than the united states and if it suffers a banking crisis, it could hurt an already weak u.s. economy. brian? back to you. >> another day of this tomorrow. michelle, thanks. back in this country, the

big story in chicago tonight is some big bad sporty weather. a big storm is making news. 60 mile an hour winds, 25-foot waves along lake michigan. weather channel meteorologist mike seidel braving it from outside the adler planetarium. hey, mike. good evening. >> reporter: hey, brian, out here that storm in the ohio valley has become a big wind machine for the windy city getting gusts up to 60 miles per hour a couple miles offshore. and behind me, we have had windows blown out of high rises this afternoon. as the winds pick out, so do the waves. look at the bike and running paths shut down on the lakefront. water and spray is now blowing over lakeshore drive. we could see 10 to 15 footers rolling in overnight. the forecast, these wind wills howl overnight through tomorrow morning across the lake. gusts up to 60. later tomorrow the storm slides into canada and weakens. the winds will weaken. by friday, much calmer. far from that last night.

along with the cold front attached to the storm, three confirmed tornadoes. this was the damage from the plantation sun rise area in south florida and broward county. 50 homes damaged. winds estimated at 120 miles per hour. it was on the ground for a mile and the enhanced fujita rating an ef-2. in chicago it won't be that windy. for some of the neighbors in higher altitudes tonight it will be a long, noisy and, for some, sleepless night. >> what a miserable night in chicago. thanks, mike. take cover if you can. in los angeles today, a dramatic day in the trial of michael jackson's doctor, conrad murray. prosecutors called their final witness and showed jurors a video of how propofol is supposed to work in an operating room. >> good evening, brian. a noted propofol expert who helped write the insert included

in every vial of the drug played a video demonstrating the proper procedures for using the anesthetic in a hospital setting and criticized dr. murray's actions calling them egregious for failing to have the proper equipment in michael jackson's bedroom. schafer capped 33 witnesses in a case many experts say is strong. it's now up to the defense to prove the reasonable doubt. they claim jackson took the final dose of medication himself. the prosecution expected to wrap up tomorrow with the defense starting its case on friday. >> kristen dahlgren at the courthouse in downtown l.a. tonight. thanks. we're back with more right after this. st

president obama continued his jobs promoting bus tour today. he was joined today by the first lady which, we have noticed, is happening a lot lately. our report tonight from nbc's andrea mitchell. >> this is nice. it's good to see you.

you're looking good. >> reporter: on a military base in virginia, barack obama's not so secret political weapon. >> how lucky am i to be married to michelle obama? [ cheers ] >> reporter: on the white house jobs tour today michelle obama is on message, announcing 25,000 private sector jobs for veterans and military spouses over the next two years. as the campaign gains speed, the first lady is gearing up. >> and i hope that all of you are fired up. >> reporter: she's raising millions and if he sometimes seems aloof, she is anything but. >> i would like to thank all of you for planning such a lovely, intimate evening for the two of us. [ laughter ] >> who knows what will happen? >> michelle obama really brings a warmth, a personal connection, a strong womanly human connection that, you know, obama, her husband, just cannot seem to get at. >> reporter: it's a transformation for a political spouse who was at first a reluctant campaigner and spent much of her first white house year focused on her children. >> when barack first started

talking about running for president i wasn't enthusiastic about the idea. >> reporter: that was then. now she's everywhere -- painting houses for military families, fighting childhood obesity. >> three, two, one, go! >> reporter: today, picking pumpkins and, above all, avoiding controversy, focusing on issues with broad appeal. so as the economy takes a toll on her husband's polls, hers remain sky high. >> she's willing to get out there. much more comfortable than she was in 2008. >> do you have his back? are you fired up? [ applause ] >> are you ready to go? >> reporter: and michelle obama is just getting started. andrea mitchell, nbc news, washington. when we continue here tonight, news for new parents everywhere. and a big change coming for starbucks customers this winter.

this is a big change since a lot of us raised our kids and this may surprise a lot of

parents and grandparents. the strict new guidelines from the american academy of pediatrics are nothing should be allowed in the crib but a sleeping baby. nothing. no blankets, no bumpers, no pillows, no toys, nothing at all. it's also suggested infants sleep in their parents' room so they can see, hear and touch them. one doctor on the task force said babies can roll into anything soft and suffocate against it and can crawl under it. this is all about preventing sudden infant deaths, responsible for 2,300 infant deaths a year. two consumer products in the news. first stamps go up in january, another cent to 45 cents to mail a letter. it's been over two years since the last year. that raises over $800 million for the postal service. and starbucks says because 40% of their customers often want a milder coffee, they will bring out so-called blonde roast

starting in january made from beans with less pungent flavor. people around the world paused to remember steve jobs today. his formal memorial service was held in california this afternoon. for three hours today, every apple store was temporarily closed to customers so that employees inside could watch a live video stream of the service. newspapers overseas are buzzing with news tonight carla bruni gave birth to a daughter named dahlia which means the french president nicolas sarkozy is a father again. carla bruni is a model, actress and recording artist. carla had a role in woody allen's latest film. this is her second child. up next here tonight, if you're sick of the food police, have we got a restaurant for you. ♪ cheeseburger in paradise

imagine in this day of the roving food police, a restaurant that serves no diet drinks, makes the fries in pure lard and sells no-filter cigarettes. if you can manage to eat the specialty of the house you get to ride to your car in a wheelchair. it's not a new restaurant. just the newest branch just opened in las vegas where, sure, people like to go to gamble, but is this place serious?

well, as nbc's george lewis reports tonight, serious as a heart attack. >> reporter: in the middle of sin city, they have turned the deadly sin of gluttony -- >> awesome. >> reporter: -- into a thriving business. >> if you want to be enabled with your gluttony, with your junk food then just come in. i'll accept you with open arms. >> reporter: it's the heart attack grill, specializing in food that's bad for you. decorated like a hospital with servers known as nurses and the customers referred to as patients. >> doctor's orders. >> reporter: and an owner who calls himself dr. john. >> give the people what they want. tell them the truth. that's what we are doing here. >> reporter: what we have here is the heart attack grill's piece de resistance, the quadruple bypass burger with four half-pound patties, we have the fries done up in lard and the triple butterfat shake. a total of 8,000 calories. >> for the average person, an

8,000 calorie meal is the equivalent of five days' worth of food. >> reporter: customers who tip the scales at more than 350 pounds eat free. so what if there is an epidemic of obesity in this country? >> if i were to dodge the point that i'm killing people, would i be a very ethical businessman? >> i can eat for free. >> reporter: all joking aside, blair river, a 575-pound spokesman for one of john basso's former restaurants died in march. s.

more silicon valley jobs, the major companies bringing more work to the bay area. while the rest of the country tries to figure out how to add jobs, silicon tech companies still continue to put out the help wanted sign. scott budman joins us with two companies who actually have to fill new buildings. scott, that's great news. >> it is, jessica. in one case they have to build that building, and that's good because it brings construction jobs right away. two bay area companies, two different industries adding up to more than