on the broadcast tonight, jackpot. the biggest ever and almost everyone wants in. tonight, what should you do if your number comes up. what happened? tonight, as thousands more americans are deployed to the war zone, chilling new eyewitness accounts of the night a u.s. soldier was accused of killing civilians. >> no women allowed. as members at one of the world's most celebrated clubs. tonight, why it may be time for a course correction. national hero. a woman silenced for years but never gave up hope and now about to make history again. "nightly news" begins now.

good evening. i'm lester holt, sitting in for brian tonight. what would you do -- buy a private jet, mansions, pay off all your debts, or give lavishly to charities? with the mega millions jackpot well north of half a billion doll dollars, a lot of us have been spending the unheard of winnings in our heads, living the fantasy. by noon eastern, the jackpot had climbed to $640 million. mega millions is played in 42 states, the district of columbia, and the virgin islands. and the tickets have been selling at the blistering pace of 14 million per hour. we know the odds of winning are ridiculously slim, yet a lot of folks tonight still can't help picturing themselves holding the big cardboard check in front of a news conference come monday morning. stephanie gosk is with some of them tonight in new jersey. good evening. >> good evening, lester. a lot of people coming into shop

said they have never played mega millions before, but today, they just had to. not because the odds are better, but because the prize is record breaking. the temptation is more than most people can resist. >> there's your number. >> just $1 for a chance at more than half a billion. >> i would buy a big house, big car. everything big. >> quit my job. >> i'm thinking yacht. >> when the jackpot jumped again, increasing by a staggering $100 million, twitter lit up. "okay, i'll play." "enjoying my last few hours being broke." >> and the lines just grew longer. at a pizza shop in new york city, they weren't selling many slices, just lots of tickets. >> i took the numbers from different psalms i say everyone day. those are the numbers i picked,

my favorite ones. >> i got 11 now, but i have to go to 100 different locations and pay $1 each. >> in the 42 states that play mega millions, people are dreaming big as they stare down incomprehensibly tiny odds. >> maybe i can win and buy a team like everyone else is. >> each ticket bought has a 1 in nearly 176 million chance of winning. >> like flipping a coin. just because you got heads last time doesn't mean you're more likely to get heads this time assuming it's a fair coin. >> the winfall won't be just theirs. the cut of the ballooning ticket sales goes to ailing state budgets. georgia spends its lottery money on prekindergarten programs and college scholarships. idaho invests in infrastructure projec projects. pennsylvania uses it money to support its seniors with low cost prescriptions and community centers. which means for most people in the long lines, the mega millions will end up being a voluntary tax. >> with the group, we spent $700 in hopes to all retire. >> there's your winning number. >> for now, for just $1, there's still a chance.

there's a possibility that no one wins tonight. if that's the case, it could push the next draw up to close to a billion dollars. lester. >> all right, stephanie. let's keep the dream alive. and play it through here. someone is likely to win tonight's jackpot. what if it's you? there's no shortage of dreams out there for all that money. there are some things you may not know about what to do first. we called on money expert suze orman for advice. >> the second you get that ticket in your possession, you need to turn it over, and when you turn it over, you will see there's a place to sign it, your social security number, everything. fill it out. once you have won, it's different. now you're in this whole dizzy stage of oh, my god, i have this money. i think everybody should play lottery winner right now. think about what you would do right now if you really did win. would you take it in a lump sum? how would you do it?

in case it happens when you're out of your body, you already have those decisions made. think about how are you going to take that money -- yearly or lump sum. and get your professional adviser in place right away. the only benefit for the annual payout is that you learn how to handle large sums of money. the big surprise is the emotional burden that it can create when a lot of money comes into your being. you think it won't be that way, i'm telling you, it very well can be. we always think, oh, if only i had that much money. here's the bottom line. money alone will never, ever, ever make you happy. but lack of money sure will make you miserable. >> suze orman on winning the lottery. another story that's getting a lot of attention tonight, news of a major security breach exposing potentially millions of credit card holders to identity theft.

tonight, a federal investigation is under way and our justice correspondent, pete williams, joins us now from washington with the details. pete, good evening. >> lester, it's unclear how many credit card accounts were affected, but the early estimates are that this was relatively small as these attacks go. the target of the security breach was not the credit card companies themselves, visa, mastercard, discover, and american extress. instead, it was a hacker attack on another company that acts as the pipeline between retailers and the card companies. this happened last months and the early estimates are it could involve 2 million accounts, but it's unlikely all of those card holders had their critical account information stolen. so tonight, the credit card companies urge their customers to double check their bills for unauthorized charges and they will not be responsible for fraudulent uses of those accounts, lester. >> pete williams in washington tonight, thank you. also developing, president obama is moving ahead with tough new moves to squeeze iran. our chief foreign affairs

correspondent andrea mitchell joins us from washington as well. andrea, good evening. >> the president decided to make this decision after deciding there was enough oil in the global market in order to not have real shocks without hurting key friends and allies who depend on iran for oil. the sanctions force foreign banks to choose between doing business with iran and being barred from the u.s. economy come july. hillary clinton talked about iran and syria with king abdullah in saudi arabia. the saudis have promised to keep increasing their production to make up for the lack of iran oil exports. asian countries with the major exception of china have already cut back purchases from iran. if the sanctions lead to shortages, driving prices up at the pump, the white house could still decide to release oil for a strategic petroleum reserve for a short-term fix. especially in an election year. no decision on that yet, lester. >> thanks. >> i want to turn to the investigation of an american

soldier accused of slaughtering 17 civilians in afghanistan. tonight, his lawyer is accusing the u.s. government of withholding vital information and afghans who say they witnessed the shooting claim staff sergeant robert bales did not act alone. all this playing out as thousands of troops from sergeant bales' home base plan to head to war. we get our report tonight from nbc's miguel almaguer. >> for the second stryker brigade, 4,200 men and women stationed at joint base lewis mcchord. >> nervous, never been without him, you know. he's our rock and he's leaving. >> a nine month deployment, the unit's first trip to afghanistan begins. for many of the soldiers, this won't be their first time in battle. >> ready to go, get it over with, serve the country and do my job. >> once on the ground in afghanistan, these soldiers will join the third stryker brigade, the same unit that staff sergeant robert bales was attached to. the american accused of killing

17 innocent afghan civilians was also based here at joint base lewis mcchord. he'll undergo a full psychological explanation. john henry brown, bales' attorney, said getting to the truth of what happened won't be easy and claims the u.s. government is withholding vital information. >> they promised us if we sent people to afghanistan and we have people there already, they would cooperate and make witnesses available for us, and they have violated that promise. >> in afghanistan, u.s. military officials say access to the crime screen is difficult. security and bureaucracy to blame. in australia, this woman, born in afghanistan and familiar with the culture, is among the first international journalists to report from the villages. her account broadcast on australian television, include children who say they were there. eyewitness accounts conflict. this villager told nbc news there were other american soldiers there that night. he says, the person was not

acting alone, and we have proof. but an afghan guard told the australian crew, he watched bales leave the base alone in the middle of the night. there is little talk of bales here, among the soldiers leaving today. 23-year-old anthony harris says good-bye to his 10-month-old son and pregnant wife. >> i feel like it's one person or actually a group of people that made a mistake. stuff we have to deal with. >> a combat mission that includes winning the hearts and minds of the afghan people. now a mission more dangerous than before. miguel almaguer, nbc news. joint base lewis mcchord. now to the investigation into the shooting death of trayvon martin. tonight, new information has come into light about the shooter, george zimmerman, specifically his behavior in a previous run-in with the law. we get the exclusive details from our national investigative correspondent michael isikoff from sanford, florida. >> when george zimmerman was

questioned by police after the trayvon martin shooting, it wasn't the first time he had been in custody. in july 2005, he was arrested in orlando for resisting a florida law enforcement officer and obstructing justice. this police report obtained by nbc news states he used violence and battery upon the officer. the lead prosecutor on the case said today zimmerman could have been charged with a felony. >> i have seen people charged with less conduct than mr. zimmerman is alleged to have done that night at the bar. >> the incident took place at this college bar where an undercover alcohol control officer was arresting several employees for selling to minors. zimmerman began interfering. the officer identified himself, showed the badge, and asked zimmerman to leave the area. i don't care who you are, he told the officer. asks again to leave, he then stated, f-you, after what the report calls a short struggle,

zimmerman was handcuffed and arrested, but the felony charges were reduced to a misdemeanor, and the court ordered zimmerman into anger management classes. >> the program recognizes that sometimes people get arrested and they're not bad people, they're people who made a mistake. >> florida officials said if he had been convicted of a felony as originally charged in 2005, he would not have been able to obtain a concealed weapons permit. zimmerman's attorney did not return repeated calls for comment. michael isikoff, nbc news, sanford, florida. imagine driving down the highway minding your own business when you see this barreling down the road in front of you. two women traveling near monterey, new mexico, said they couldn't believe it was crossing the road as they headed straight toward it. fortunately, it formed in a relatively rural area and there are no reports of any major damage. and we're getting looks at incredible video from inside a school bus in henryville, indiana. as a tornado made a direct hit there earlier this month. it lifted the 36,000 pound bus

like a toy, tossing it into a nearby diner. the bus driver led students to safety just minutes before. still ahead, as "nbc nightly news" continues this friday, one of america's most exclusive clubs. will they finally admit women? and later, more on the giant jackpot. what is it that makes so many people take a long-shot chance on a dream?

an american institution may be under new pressure tonight to admit women as members.

next week is one of the biggest tournaments in golf. the masters at america's most exclusive golf club, augusta national. the club has only 300 members, all men. now augusta may have to change course. nbc's lisa myers explains why. >> augusta national golf club is among the most hallowed ground in golf, in its tournament, the masters, has provided some of golf's most memorable moments from its brightest stars. but this year's event threatened to be overshadowed by controversy. the exclusive club which includes the titans of american business, has long refused to accept women as members. but historically, it has invited the ceo of ibm to join, and the past four have. now, the new ceo of ibm is a woman, ginni rometty, who is said to play golf, though sparingly. so augusta is under pressure to finally admit a woman. >> a lot of the people who cover

the tournament cover the club, think that in fact female membership will come to augusta national, but it will be on augusta's terms. and on augusta's timeline. >> at augusta, barriers have been slow to fall. the first black member, ron townsend, was admitted in 1990. the legendary professional golfer lee trevino, a mexican american, is reported to have changed his shoes in the parking lot because he found the clubhouse racially hostile. martha burk did battle with augusta nine years ago over admitting women and lost. for people who don't play golf, why does it matter? >> it matter because it's power. it's not really about golf. it's about where the deals are made, and women should not be left out of that. >> burk said it's also important that ibm not allow its first female ceo to be treated with less respect than her male predecessors. today, augusta had no comment and ibm wouldn't comment either.

the club is so secretive it's possible rometty has been invited to join and they're just not telling us. those rooting for rometty worry too much public pressure will be counterproductive. >> lisa myers, thanks. score one for the baby boomers. nbc news has learned the colorado rockies are expected to announce today that 49-year-old jamie moyer will be named to the team's starting roster. the left-hander will then take a shot at history, pitching in the first weekend of the baseball season. at 49, if he wins, he'd be the oldest pitcher ever to win a major league game. moyer made his big league debut in 1986 when many of his teammates were not even born. up next here tonight, against all odds. a woman who stood up to dictators and won, now being hailed as a hero.

we have a story about a woman who is being compared to nelson mandela, even gandhi for her bravery.

tonight, aung san saou kyi, the longtime dissident and leader of the democracy leader in myarmar is poised to become a member of the very government that kept her down for so many years. nbc's ian williams is there. >> this is something few people ever expected to see in myanmar. holding posters that would have landed them in jail just a year ago in support of a woman whose quiet dignity and determination have gripped the country and the world. >> you think you'll win? >> for 15 of the past 23 years, her lakeside home has been a prison where she was kept isolated from family and friends. yet she never gave up hope and is now poised to win a seat in parliament and very possibly join a government that is embracing reform but is still dominated by her longtime military tormenters. >> i don't think i or any

individual has the right to say i forgive or i do not forgive. all we should do is find out what would do best do to bring about national reconciliation. >> the spirit has won her a legion of international admirers. she was so exhausted this week that she had to stop campaigning, and the 66-year-old said she's still feeling delicate. >> any tough questions and i shall faint straight away. >> that hasn't stopped her accusing her opponents of intimidation ahead of sunday's polls. there's a real sense of euphoria and a feeling for all its imperfections, this election does represent a first step towards real change in myanmar. led by the woman who defied the generals and won the heart of her nation. ian williams, nbc news. back now in this country, i want to show you a dramatic close call on a rooftop in dearborn, michigan. three firefighters were trying to break a hole in a roof at a dry cleaners when it began to

buckle beneath them. one of those incredible moments that make you gasp, as they pull each other to safety. when we come back, long lines, long odds. why do we do it?

finally tonight, you heard it before. the reality is you have a much better chance of being struck by lightning than matching all six numbers in tonight's mega millions drawing. but it doesn't hurt to dream, right? that's what many americans have been doing all day long, including our kevin tibbles. >> life, liberty, and the pursuit of lottery tickets. what is it that makes this a nation of american dreamers? >> i play the lottery because it's a dream. >> i'm dreaming big-time, yeah. >> we're a country literally built on the quest for a better life. it's what brought the mayflower, what drove the gold rush and the black gold oil booms. americans will migrate to where the fast money is, and dreaming of getting rich quick is addictive. >> it's a surprise. it's a whole notion of somebody getting something that they probably didn't deserve. ♪ luck be a lady tonight >> we sing about it, we make movies about it.

we even make fools of ourselves on television just to get our hands on more of it. millions of us are laying down a buck in hopes of winning a lot more of it. does that make us inherently greedy or just eager for better? so eager, a study found that folks earning less than $13,000 a year spend $645 of those dollars or 9% of their income on lottery tickets. >> it's all about making it in america in some way, and lottery is really kind of a way that really doesn't exist for most of us, but it's vicarious. >> five years ago, cynthia stafford was struggling to support five kids and make ends meet. she won $112 million. >> we all have dreams, and they do come true. you just got to believe in them and allow them to happen. >> but of course, this dream comes with odds of 176 million to 1. as for cynthia, she runs her own company and her own charitable foundation, and oh, she, too,

has a ticket for tonight's drawing. kevin tibbles, nbc news, chicago. if you're playing, good luck. that's our broadcast for this friday night. thank you for being with us. i'm lester holt in tonight for brian. i'll see you later this evening for "dateline" and tomorrow morning on "today." for all of us at nbc news, good night. good evening. thank you very much for joining us. i'm garvin thomas. >> we begin tonight with the search for sierra lamar. a disturbing discovery. crews found bones but confirmed this afternoon they were animal s.