on the b on the broadcast tonight, up in the air. the feds ground a mega merger between two airline giants, warning about higher fares and fees and fewer choices. tonight, what it really means for everyone who flies. what lies beneath. a nightmare for thousands of homeowners living on top of sinkholes. tonight, a rare look deep down, where all those problems begin. paying the price for obama care. designed to provide health care for all, but some businesses are cutting back to avoid the costs, doing some american workers more harm than good. and the baby boom. for a lot of couples who have struggled to have a child, including new dad jimmy fallon, sharing his story tonight with savannah guthrie. "nightly news" begins now.

good evening. i'm lester holt sitting in tonight for brian. if you've found yourself in front of a computer lately trying to find cheap air fair, then you know how frustrating it can be. it's no secret there are fewer seats to be had as airlines have cut capacity. and a wave of mega mergers have swept names like northwest, continental and airtran into history. today the government put its foot down and blocked the merger between american airlines and us airways, which combined would be the world's biggest airline. contrary to what those two carriers have been saying, the deal will reduce competition and force us all to pay more to fly. nbc's tom costello has a story from one of the airports that could be most impacted by all this, washington's reagan national. tom?

>> reporter: hi, lester. justice says if this deal goes through, this mega airline would control 69% of the takeoff and landing slots here at reagan national airport, and competition would be affected nationwide. for months, usairways and american had been promoting their merger as a big win for customers. >> we would not only become a bigger airline, but also something so much greater. >> reporter: but today, the government and a bipartisan group of attorneys general from six states and d.c. moved to block the deal, saying the new airline would be too big, reducing the number of big carriers from four to three. >> they tend to contract the market, so you have less routes, less choices, higher prices, less people trying to please you because they don't have people competing with them. they don't need to please you. >> reporter: some passenger rights advocates are applauding. >> on a net basis, consumers got no new destinations, and we lost competition across the country. that's what i was really concerned about. >> reporter: the government argues the merged airline would

dramatically cut competition since they compete directly on a thousand routes already. but american and us airways insist they compete on just 12 routes. in a joint statement, they vow to fight the government in court saying, "blocking this pro competitive merger will deny competitors access to a network that gives them more choices." airline analysts say merging does make good business sense. >> this industry has a track record of too many planes and too many players, and unless they can tighten up profitability by tightening up capacity, it's going to be a badly damaged industry. >> reporter: the proposed american/us airways deal would be the latest airline mega merger following united/continental, northwest/delta, southwest and both airtran and ata. usairways and america west. but is it good for passengers who now pay more for luggage, leg room, even sodas. >> the prices are no longer competitive, then i would be unhappy. >> if you're not providing the services, they're going to go to another airline. if you're not providing the routes, they're going to go to another airline. >> reporter: the government has approved airline mergers in the

past, but it said this one was simply too big. and it says those previous mergers have provenhat too often the airlines hike fares and cut their routes. lester? >> and tom, this merger was announced just as american was slipping off into bankruptcy. so a lot of people are wondering tonight is a weakened american better off than perhaps to have this merger go through? >> reporter: you know, this is a business where it's survival of the fittest. clearly, if you lose an airline, if that ever became an eventuality, that would be bad news for customers also. the government finds itself walking a very fine line here between what's good for the customers and what's good for business. >> tom costello tonight, thank you. it's been tough going weatherwise along parts of the east coast today. there were flash flood watches and warnings as the onslaught of torrential rain continued, including pennsylvania and new jersey where, as you can see, some communities got a lot of water. people are still talking about the story that began our newscast last night. the giant sinkhole that swallowed a resort in florida near disney world in the middle of the night. turns out thousands of americans

live on top of sinkholes or potential sinkholes, some of them unaware of the danger below. that's where our kerry sanders goes tonight. >> reporter: today a little good news, the sinkhole that swallowed a three story condominium hotel has not grown any larger. engineers examined the 100 foot wide hole and say there's no reason to believe it will expand. sinkholes are not unusual in florida. there are more than 19,000 documented in the sunshine state. most are in central florida. >> one of the larger cracks -- >> reporter: suzanne ehrlich is living on top of one of those nightmares. crews worked today to shore up the foundation of her trinity, florida home after cracks in the floor revealed she's living on a developing sinkhole. >> is some shift going to occur in the house that i don't know about? so it's still a panic mode, i think, until we get it completely done. >> reporter: sinkhole insurance claims have nearly tripled over a four-year period, and premiums have skyrocketed.

some fear it will damage the recovering housing market here. >> sinkholes you just can't predict. and the more we see of these in this area, the more investors may say, maybe this is not the place for me to put my money. >> reporter: most sinkholes in central florida wind up filling up with water and becoming lakes. this is one of the rare dry sinkholes, in apopka, florida. it opened 15 years ago. and a hiker was coming by and says he literally saw a tree disappear. over the next four days it continued to grow. sinkholes occur in almost every state. the u.s. geological survey says the hotspots, in addition to florida include texas, alabama, missouri, kentucky, tennessee and pennsylvania. for those living in florida's sinkhole alley, it's turning into a costly and unsettling way of life. kerry sanders, nbc news, clermont, florida.

meanwhile, in western illinois, the fire chief says it sounded like the roar of a jet engine when a fuel pipeline exploded beneath a corn field, shooting flames high into the sky and carving a 15 foot crater into the earth. the flames could be seen for miles around. dozens of people were evacuated from their homes, but fire crews were able to get this accident under control. thankfully no one was injured. in atlanta tonight, police say the death of a man who fell 85 feet from the upper level of a baseball stadium appears to be a terrible accident. police say 30-year-old ronald homer fell over a railing to the parking lot below at turner field during an atlanta braves game. another fan was killed back in 2008 when he fell at the stadium. north carolina tonight is the newest battleground and a big fight over access to the voting booth. the governor there has signed one of the nation's toughest laws that supporters say is intended to cut down on voter fraud. opponents say it's designed to make it harder for certain people to vote.

we get our report tonight from our justice correspondent pete williams. >> reporter: alberta curry, who lives near fayetteville, has voted in every presidential election since 1956. >> that was something that i needed to do, for my children, my family, was to vote. >> but she doesn't have a birth certificate, and says it will be hard to comply with north carolina's tough new voter i.d. law. it was passed a month after the supreme court struck down the heart of the voting rights act, freeing the state from having to get federal permission before changing its voting laws. now the governor has signed it. >> protecting the integrity of every vote cast is among the most important duties i have as governor. >> reporter: the new law cuts early voting by a week, ends same day registration, and stops a program to let 17-year-olds preregister to vote. >> it is 57 pages of regressive,

unconstitutional acts to rig and manipulate elections through voter suppression. >> reporter: civil rights groups say the changes hit minorities hard, because 70% of african-americans voted early last november compared to 52% of whites. the lawsuits say minority voters use same day registration more often because they tend to move more. and that reducing early voting will make the lines on election day even longer. hillary clinton last night said it's part of a trend nationwide to make voting harder. >> anyone who says that racial discrimination is no longer a problem in american elections must not be paying attention. >> the obama administration will be among the next to sue. urging the courts to again force north carolina to get federal approval before changing its voting laws. pete williams, nbc news at the justice department. we're learning more tonight about some of the unintended consequences of the affordable care act, which the president himself now calls obama care.

some workers who thought it meant they would finally get some health insurance are instead getting hit with a double whammy. no insurance, and a pay cut. we get the story tonight from our senior investigative correspondent lisa myers. >> reporter: luke has worked as a subway franchise in maine for a decade. >> oil, vinegar, salt, pepper. >> reporter: he recently was told his hours would be cut to 29 a week. >> it's very tough. i'm scratching by as it is with overtime. >> reporter: luke's boss, lauren goodrich, who owns 21 subway franchises says it's all because of the new health care law. employers must provide health insurance to anyone working 30 or more hours a week. goodrich says his small business can't afford that. so he's cutting hours for 50 of his workers. >> losing five or six hours a week, that's 50, $60 a week or a couple hundred dollars a month, that's a car payment. >> reporter: we spoke to almost 20 small businesses and other entities around the country. almost all said because of the

new law, they would be cutting back hours for some employees. >> any time you see a one, that's on. >> reporter: at st. petersburg college in florida, 250 part time professors have had their hours reduced. >> it has been the hardest decision i've had to make, and i hope that we can work our way through it to a better answer than we're able to give today. >> reporter: part time math professor tracy sullivan lost half her income. >> i never thought it would impact me directly. i was stunned when i got the e-mail. >> the white house dismisses these examples as anecdotal. the president's top economic adviser told us he sees no systematic evidence the health care law is having an adverse impact on the number of hours employees are working. the administration says this isn't a problem, it's not happening. >> it is happening. >> reporter: joseph hanson is president of the union that supports obama care. he says discount stores already are cutting workers to 29 hours.

and that unionized grocery stores want to follow suit. >> wait a year, you'll see a tremendous impact as workers have their hours reduced and their incomes reduced. >> reporter: the white house has delayed the employer mandate for a year, but many businesses are like luke perfect's subway are still preparing for cuts. lisa myers, nbc news, kennebunk, maine. we have a lot more to tell you about tonight. after years of private struggles, sheer joy for new dad jimmy fallon, opening up to savannah guthrie. and a look at the surge in couples using surrogates to have a baby. and later, a reversal of fortune for folks left hard hit by hurricane sandy. tonight, what they plan to do after hitting one of the biggest jackpots of all time. of the bit jackpots of all time. one of the jackpots of all time. ietnam in . [ all ] fort benning, georgia in 1999. [ male announcer ] usaa auto insurance is often handed down from generation to generation. because it offers a superior level of protection

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hundred to evacuate. the blaze is burning in colville, fed by whipping winds. at least 300 homes are in danger. up to 15 have already been destroyed. some 350 acres charred so far. the blaze only 5% contained, is burning just miles from park city, utah. now back to lester holt in new york. thousands of american couples have experienced the heartbreak and frustration of dealing with infertility. it's an emotional roller coaster late night tv host jimmy fallon and his wife know all too well. after years of trying to conceive, they recently welcomed a new daughter. how they weren't about it has sparked a broader conversation and is a solution that more couples are turning to. now, in a revealing interview with "today's" savannah guthrie, fallon is sharing their story. >> reporter: jimmy fallon is known for putting a smile on people's faces. >> oh, yeah. >> and now, he's smiling, from a place deep down inside. >> i'm your host, dada.

>> reporter: surprising fans last month with news he's a first time father. congratulations on the new baby. >> oh, my gosh. thank you so much. it's the most unbelievable thing. you can't describe it. it's like i'm in a -- i'm floating in a new bubble. >> reporter: following that surprise with another. >> we had a surrogate, and it's just, we tried before, we told people, and then it didn't happen. it's really depressing, really hard. >> reporter: and it's common. infertility hits one in six couples. many are now opting for surrogacy, arranging for someone else to carry their child. >> it's so emotional when you call everybody and you tell everybody this happened. it comes out of nowhere. they're like, what? everyone starts crying, and they're really happy, because we tried for a long time. >> reporter: melissa was not able to carry a baby, so she and her husband decided to use a gestational surrogate. when the woman is implanted with a fertilized egg from the biological parents. >> i was crying. we were all crying.

the carrier was crying, her husband was crying, he was so happy. >> reporter: now a mother of three, she changed careers to help families connect with potential surrogates. >> every little girl grows up thinking she's going to carry a baby. it's hard to have someone else carry the baby for you. it brings me great joy, my work. we've helped over 1500 people have babies. for me, that's always going to be something i'm very proud of. >> reporter: the price tag is high, anywhere from 40,000 to $120,000. part of which can be covered by insurance. the actual cost depends on a variety of factors. including the medical needs of the surrogate, the type of surrogacy, and payment to the surrogate herself, which can be upwards of $25,000. but the result is priceless. >> you know, we tried for five years. and i know people have tried much longer. if there's anyone out there who is trying and losing hope -- just hang in there, try every avenue, try everything can you do, you'll get there about you'll end up with a family, and

it's so worth it. >> well, of course, surrogacy is not right for everyone. and lester, the fallons know how lucky, how blessed they are. they've been given a lot of credit tonight for raising the issue of infertility and being so open about it. >> we're obviously thrilled for them, but this is a comp indicated process. i remember at the outset when this first began, it was a bit risky. >> it is. for a lot of different reasons. a lot of people remember that case of baby m back in 1987, where the surrogate mother ended up winning custody of the child. it's a very complicated legal world. there's a patchwork of different laws. the states are all different. the bottom line is, if this is something you're considering, you really need to consult a lawyer. it's a complicated issue, and it can be expensive as well. >> you'll have more with jimmy tomorrow? >> we will on "today." >> thanks for doing double duty for us tonight. appreciate it. when we come back, we'll check in with brian and see how he's doing a week since his surgery. how he's doing a week since his surgery. the land

than probably anyone else. we've had this farm for 30 years. we raise black and red angus cattle. we also produce natural gas. that's how we make our living and that's how we can pass the land and water back to future generations. people should make up their own mind what's best for them. all i can say is it has worked well for us. does your mouth often feel like it lacks enough saliva to keep it comfortably moist? losing saliva's natural protection can triple your risk of cavities, bad breath, or mouth infections. do more than just sip water. try number-one dentist recommended biotène. do more than just sip water. trust your instincts to make the call. to treat my low testosterone, my doctor and i went with axiron, the only underarm low t treatment. axiron can restore t levels to normal in about 2 weeks in most men. axiron is not for use in women or anyone younger than 18

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now to what may be the now to what may be the biggest hint yet about a race that's still a few years off. the 2016 race for president. and the question a lot of people are asking, will hillary clinton run? here in new york city last night, one of the candidates for mayor, who's making headlines for other reasons, former congressman anthony weiner made some news about that when he was asked about his wife, a clinton confidante, and her possible role in a hillary campaign. >> do you know what her role in hillary's 2016 campaign is going to be? >> i do. >> and what will it be? >> i'm not telling you. >> you heard it. weiner responding to a question about the clinton campaign. so did weiner spill the beans? clinton insiders told our white house correspondent peter alexander today, quote, there are no beans to spill. stay tuned. a federal judge has thrown out racial discrimination charges against paula deen by a woman who used to work at her restaurants.

because the judge said the woman is white. but deen still faces sexual harassment claims. and, of course, she's taken a huge financial hit by losing her tv show and plenty of sponsorships. we have an update tonight on a friend of ours. it was a week ago today that brian underwent successful knee replacement surgery, correcting a football injury from over 30 years ago. brian is recovering at the jersey shore, where his wife took this photo. looks pretty good, just five days after the operation. you'll note the cane. brian says he can't go anywhere without it. and he tells us the ocean air and his daily physical therapy sessions are working wonders. we know he's watching. brian, we hope to see you back soon. i'll keep the chair warm for you. up next, 16 co-workers who made a difference during hurricane sandy, now speaking out about the moment they hit the powerball jackpot and what they plan to do with all that money. s on my feet and exactly where i needed more support. then, i got my number. my tired, achy feet affected my whole life.

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or who have or might have prostate cancer, and women who are or may become pregnant or are breast-feeding, should not use androgel. serious side effects include worsening of an enlarged prostate, possible increased risk of prostate cancer, lower sperm count, swelling of ankles, feet, or body, enlarged or painful breasts, problems breathing during sleep, and blood clots in the legs. tell your doctor about your medical conditions and medications, especially insulin, corticosteroids, or medicines to decrease blood clotting. in a clinical study, over 80% of treated men had their t levels restored to normal. talk to your doctor about all your symptoms. get the blood tests. change your number. turn it up. androgel 1.62%. [ crashing ] [ male announcer ] when your favorite food starts a fight, fight back fast with tums. trusted heartburn relief that goes to work in seconds. nothing works faster. ♪ tum, tum tum tum tums! to prove to you that aleve is the better choice for him, he's agreed to give it up. that's today? [ male announcer ] we'll be with him all day

as he goes back to taking tylenol. i was okay, but after lunch my knee started to hurt again. and now i've got to take more pills. ♪ yup. another pill stop. can i get my aleve back yet? ♪ for my pain, i want my aleve. ♪ [ male announcer ] look for the easy-open red arthritis cap. finally tonight, by now you may have heard about the 16 luckiest people in american, the new jersey group of co-workers who went through a tough time together and are basking in a sudden reversal of fortune. for the first time since they hit the powerball jackpot, they're sharing their joy with the rest of us. note i said joy, not money many

and they're answering the question, what will they do with all their winnings? here's nbc's katy tur. >> reporter: they've been dubbed ocean's 16, a group of nine women and seven men, all good friends. you could call them a cast of colorful characters. >> my fellow americans. this is my best outfit. >> reporter: winners of an $86 million powerball jackpot, they are new jersey's luckiest office pool. >> i had to wake my poor husband up, who is no longer poor. >> reporter: as of last week, they all worked at the ocean county vehicle maintenance garage. as of this week, they still do. >> reporter: when it's all divvied up after taxes, each should get about $3.8 million. maybe not enough for everybody to retire from here, but certainly enough for some to right some wrongs. ten months ago, hurricane sandy ripped through this county, destroying thousands of homes.

darlene's was one of them. >> the first thing i'm going to do is buy me and my daughter a home and bring my dog back home. >> reporter: terry nichols had seven feet of water in her first floor. >> it was very devastating, i'll never forget it. everything was knocked over, all pushed down there. the whole backyard was like -- everything was like a tornado. >> reporter: boarded up windows, downed power lines, neighborhoods still scarred by damage. ocean county, new jersey, was due for a little bit of good news. and in a twist of fate, one of the winners is the daughter of the new jersey legislator who sponsored the law to create the state lottery. >> he was my hero, i couldn't ask for a better dad. and i wish he was here to share in the moment. >> reporter: katy tur, nbc news, toms river, new jersey. that's our broadcast for this tuesday night, thank you for being with us. i'm lester holt in for brian. we hope to see you right back here tomorrow evening. good night.

>> nbc bay area news starts now. good evening. >> we begin with a developing story, a tragic accident on campus, a construction worker struck and killed a pedestrian on the san jose city college campus. it happened where crews were putting in a new waterline. our reporter joins us now with what we know about that accident and the victim. >> reporter: what we know is that the chancellor of the college system says that her heart goes out as a mother and

grandmother, but she wouldn't specify that this was a young woman who was struck. cal osha told us that it was a young woman. she was walking on the sidewalk between the fine arts building and the vocational training center when that massive front loader backed uh, moving a load of dirt. one. crew members called 911. she was transported to valley medical center, but even being that chose to the trauma center, there was nothing that. >>s could do. the scheef operating officer says that the worker who was driving that front load earn has more than 35 years of experience. he was questioned by police. and he also met with a grief counselor after the accident. san jose police took over the investigation from campus police. but investigators have not said how that woman came to be behind the front loader, whether it was because the area was not properly secured or whether she was someplace she was not